Quit if you can't serve, MIC chief told

Former MIC Youth chief T Mohan has told his party president to resign if he cannot serve the Malaysian Indian community.

"If G Palanivel does not have the hunger to serve the community, he should resign and hand his position to a more capable person," he said in a statement issued late yesterday.

Mohan was livid with the president over his delay in nominating a party leader for the post of senator.

"As president, he should have followed up with Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir, instead of dwelling on a meeting that took place three months ago," he added.

Mohan was referring to Palanivel's meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at the Perak convention on the matter of appointing a senator.

"I am also perplexed as to why Palanivel has not taken the initiative, as president of the party, to nominate someone for the post.

"He was informed of it six months ago," he said, referring to Zambry's statement that he has already informed Palanivel about the matter earlier.

Mohan also criticised Palanivel for constantly blaming Najib for the delay, calling it a lame excuse.

"He should have taken the initiative to have a discussion with Najib, submit names and get his approval," he noted.

According to Mohan, one of the reasons why there is a delay in appointing a MIC senator is because of Palanivel giving assurances to several dozen candidates for the post.

This has happened before

Mohan also pointed out that MIC has seen this problem before, when Palanivel took two years to submit names when two posts for senators from MIC fell vacant in 2012.

"It was only after my statement, as well as others questioning the delay in the appointment of the senators early this year that led to the appointment of former MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran and R Goonasekaran in June," he added.

He also questioned the re-nomination of two senators, V Subramaniam and A Sivabakiam, which was done in a flash on July 1 when their senate terms only expire at the end of this month.

"Is it because both senators are Palanivel's close allies and he is thus beholden to them?" Mohan asked.

Citing another example of poor leadership, Mohan said the mid-term review of the Fifth Malaysia Plan is ongoing but MIC has been lackadaisical about initiating meetings and providing the government with input.

On the other hand, Mohan applauded Zambry for providing the nation with a "clearer picture" on the tussle regarding the senator's post.

Vell Paari: It's obvious who is lying

Meanwhile, MIC strategy director S Vell Paari said the spat does not bode well for both BN and MIC, especially for the latter, which does not have any elected representatives in the state.

"Compared to other states, the Perak menteri besar has been much more generous to MIC even though we have no elected representatives. He has given MIC the positions of speaker, special advisor and special officer.

"But going by the latest turn of events, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out who is responsible for the delay. It is quite obvious who is not telling the truth," he added in an obvious reference to Palanivel.

Vell Paari said there is no need to drag Zambry into this issue, especially asking him to make the candidate announcement.

"He has no vested interests in this issue. Why should he? What has he got to gain or lose over the appointment of a MIC senator?" he pointed out.

"If there is an issue then it is something that Palanivel has to take up with PM and not Zambry. The power to recommend the candidate is the prerogative of the party president.

"So to involve the menteri besar in this issues is incomprehensible. Unless like how the PM's name was used to escape criticism over the extensions of the two senates.

"So should a candidate be chosen and masking it to look as if the candidate was the menteri besar's decision, hence can escape criticism from others in Perak who were promised the senate seat," he added.