KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — Launched just two months ago by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Makkal Sakti party, one of a host of disparate political parties formed from what remained of the Hindraf movement, is now in turmoil with a majority of its leaders calling for its president R S Thanenthiran to quit with immediate effect.
The group of dissidents, led by deputy president A Vathemurthy (pic) is claiming the backing of more than 15 out of the 27 central committee members.
“We want Thanenthiran to relinquish the presidency. A motion to remove him was supposed to have been discussed today but the central committee meeting was cancelled at the last minute,” said Vathemurthy at a press conference here.
The central committee was supposed to meet tonight, but party secretary-general R Kannan issued a notice to cancel the meeting today.
The newly formed Makkal Sakti Party, which Prime Minister Najib is hoping will help him win over the Tamil working class, appears now to be in a major split over what some senior party leaders say is “the Samy Vellu-style, dictatorial” tendencies of president Thanenthiran.
The rebels have accused Thanenthiran of high-handedness and failing to share decision making with other senior leaders.
The senior leaders had requested an emergency general meeting for today.
The party, which was formed in May this year, launched by Najib on Oct 10 and largely considered as an alternative political party to the Indian community. MIC had expressed its objection, saying that the formation of Makkal Sakti would split the Indian community further.
Vathemurthy said that majority of CC members and ordinary members have absolutely no confidence in the leadership of Thanenthiran “ ... and think that his continued presence as president is a severe threat to the stability, progress and future of our newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party and the larger interest of Malaysian Indians.”
About 12 members of CC that he claimed were supporting him on this issue attended the press conference today.
He added that they were extremely unhappy to note that, without any prior notice and their approval, the Secretary General has yesterday unilaterally decided to postpone the said meeting of the CC fixed for this evening.
“We have taken legal advice and believe that this conduct of the Secretary General is illegal and very unfair to us,” he said.
He claimed that Thanenthiran had been “absolutely derelict and careless” and had shown no signs of effective leadership, thereby causing the party to be split into two factions.
“He runs the party as a one-man show, with the association of his family members and relatives as CC members,” he said.
Thanenthiran’s brother is also one of the party’s vice presidents.
The deputy president also claimed that Thanenthiran was not transparent and accountable in his financial dealings.
“We asked him how much money was collected and the source, but he ignored us and said that we should not ask him such questions. So where is the element of democracy in the party that we fighting for?” he said.
He also asked the Prime Minister and all parties to disengage from any dealings with Thanenthiran.
“As the matter deserves serious attention, we will explore all avenues to save our party.
“In this interim, we make a sincere plea to our Prime Minister and all parties to disengage from any dealings with Thanenthiran as it will not be in the interest of our party,” said Vathemurthy, who stressed that his group will remain in the party.
Asked about his next move, Vathemurthy said that he would ask for another CC meting soon.
“We will give them another chance to discuss the agenda. Then we will move from there,” he said and added that they would appoint someone either from inside the party or even an outsider as the new president.
However, he declined to reveal any more.
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