PETALING JAYA: MIC delegates have made a major mistake by voting out former vice-president T Mohan as he was among the few senior leaders with a passion for the community, says former party president Dr S Subramaniam.
Expressing “shock and hurt” at the development, the former minister said Mohan had made immense contributions to the Indian community, particularly for Tamil schools.
“He also single-handedly developed the Malaysian Indian Football Association into a powerful sports entity, enabling it to become Malaysia Premier League runners-up once,” he told FMT.
Subramaniam voiced hope that MIC leaders and members would ensure that Mohan does not leave the party, saying the former vice-president was only 51 years old and still had much to offer.
He said that when he was the party chief, he had personally seen Mohan standing up for the Indian community when faced with evictions or the destruction of Hindu temples.
“The party really needs more effective leaders who are driven by a passion to improve the community. Mohan’s defeat is a great loss to the party and the community as he is a man with a great passion for the Indian community.
“In many issues pertaining to the community, he was on the front line fighting. When a Hindu temple was being demolished, Mohan was there leading the protesters,” said Subramaniam, who was MIC president from June 2015 to 2019.
Recalling an incident involving a temple in Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, Subramaniam said he and other youths had been held in Dang Wangi station.
“I had to go to the station in the middle of the night to assist in getting them out. In spite of all his contributions to the party, delegates have found it fit to reward him with a defeat. I am both shocked and angry.”
On Sunday, Mohan lost the race for one of the three vice-president’s posts to M Asojan, T Murugiah and R Nelson. This was despite him being a favourite, having won the post with the most votes in the 2021 election.
Mohan, who was vice-president from 2018, claimed MIC president SA Vigneswaran had campaigned for Nelson despite being chairman of the party’s election, saying he should have been neutral given his position.
Vigneswaran admitted to lending some support to Nelson as he was “not in the same league” as the rest, but denied playing any part in Mohan’s loss.
Besides the three elected vice-presidents, the party chief will appoint two more. However, Mohan said he would not accept any appointment as vice-president if offered. - FMT
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