Subramaniam declares open battle for MIC

Deputy president opens second front as Palanivel battles Registrar

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s open warfare for leadership of the troubled Malaysia Indian Congress as deputy president Dr S Subramaniam declared his candidacy for the top post today.

Coming on the heels of an apparent nod in his direction by Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Razak yesterday, his announcement puts embattled party leader G Palanivel under more pressure.

Subramaniam’s announcement, for the first such contest since 1993, comes days head of a meeting that Najib had said he would hold with the MIC leaders.

On Saturday, when the Barisan chairman had been asked if he would meet Palanivel , Najib had reportedly said: “On tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday, with Datuk Subramaniam, one more time” without mentioning Palanivel.

Other reports later said that Palanivel and Subramaniam would both meet Najib, and Palanivel told Bernama in Cameron Highlands today that it would be a closed-door meeting with Subramaniam present.

However, the apparent hint by Najib in mentioning Subramaniam by name, coupled with an announcement by home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week that the MIC must hold elections at all levels, casts doubts about Palanivel’s standing with the Umno leadership.

The registrar of societies later confirmed Zahid’s announcement.

The MIC had first been ordered to hold a replacement election for the 23 central working committee members and three vice-presidents because of irregularities in the elections of November 2013. The president and deputy president was elected unopposed at the time.

However, the registrar later ordered fresh elections to be held for all positions, and on Saturday, Palanivel challenged the registrar’s orders, and said the party would take legal action unless the registrar withdraws the three letters that were issued since December.

Earlier today, he had also suspended the memberships of three members of the 2009 central working committee for allegedly holding an “illegal” meeting at the party headquarters on Friday.

Today’s announcement by Subramaniam leaves Palanivel fighting a legal battle as well as one of political legitimacy. Further complications may arise if vice-president M Saravanan also throws his hat into the ring as has been speculated, but no announcement has been forthcoming.

Saravanan was at today’s announcement by Subramaniam, together with MIC Youth leader C. Sivarraajh and MIC Wanita chief M. Mohana.

Subramaniam, who is Health Minister and MP for Segamat, made his announcement before more than 1,000 members. “I have no desire for posts. I am already a minister but as a party member, and to respect your feelings, there is a need for change in the party,” he was quoted as saying.

The last fight for the MIC presidency was in 1993 when Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was unsuccessfully challenged by his deputy, also named S. Subramaniam.