Saravanan eyeing MIC top post

MIC vice-president Datuk M.Saravanan may oust current MIC president Datuk Seri G.Palanivel if there is enough support in the upcoming party election, which was ordered by the Registrar of Societies. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 3, 2015.MIC vice-president Datuk M.Saravanan has indicated that he might go for the deputy president or president's post should the party call for a fresh election.

Commenting on MIC president Datuk Seri G.Palanivel's proposal for a fresh election, he said it was the right decision, for the sake of the party and the Indian community.  

"If party members give me the mandate, I might contest for the deputy president or president's post.

"I will discuss with my supporters and if most of them agree, then why not," he told reporters when met at the Sri Subramaniyar Swamy Temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, Saravanan and other MIC leaders were on hand to welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor as they arrived to join in the Thaipusam celebration today.

Differences arose among MIC members following an order by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on December 5, for the party to hold re-elections for the three vice-president posts and 23 Central Working Committee seats within 90 days.

RoS found irregularities in the party election held during the 68th MIC annual general meeting in Melaka on November 30, 2013.

Meanwhile, former MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu who led the party for 31 years from 1981, said the internal crisis should be resolved quickly to avoid a breakup to the detriment of the Indian community.

Expressing his concern, he said MIC was not as strong as it was before.

"If they don’t take any action, MIC will lose its strength, and when it does, the Indian community will depart from it," he said.

In Johor Baru, MIC vice-president Datuk S.Balakrishnan also said a fresh party election was the best resort to end the party's internal crisis.

He said the re-election ordered by the RoS would not guarantee an end to the party's troubles.

"There are still other issues and they will not stop unless a fresh election is held," the Johor MIC chairman told reporters after the Thaipusam celebration at the Arulmigu Thendayuthapani Kovil Temple in Kuala Lumpur today. – Bernama