By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — A faction led by deputy president of the Malaysia Makkal Sakti party today formally sacked president R. S. Thanenthiran.
The move brings to head a bitter feud between the two that started on the very day Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the party on Oct 10 last year.
Both factions are almost even in strength with A. Vathemurthy controlling 14 Central Committee members and Thanenthiran having 13.
With their strength almost even it is up to Najib to either find a way to unite the two factions or take sides.
But increasingly Najib is not waiting for these, or other Indian leaders, to shape up but is reaching out to the Indian community on his own steam and charisma.
The feud has its origins during the launch of the party.
Vathemurthy felt slighted that Thanenthiran did not share the limelight during that grand launch and the ill feelings later developed into major disagreements on handling of party funds, alleged nepotism and mismanagement.
Their feud has seriously set back Najib’s strategy to win over the alienated Tamil working-class that rejected the MIC/BN for the Pakatan Raykat in the 2008 general election.
Vathemurthy told The Malaysian Insider that he is now the acting president “until a new president” is found to head the party which carries and enjoys the prestige of the Makkal Sakti name, the PR rallying cry in 2008.
Thanenthiran had ignored the Vathemurthy faction, changing the locks to the party’s headquarters and tried to carry on as party president.
Vathemurthy’s faction used its one-vote majority to lodge police reports, change the locks at the head office and hold the CC meeting that today sacked Thanenthiran.
However, Thanenthiran, anticipating the sacking has flown to Madras where he is expected to meet Najib, who is on an official visit to India, and brief him of what “actually” transpired.
He will be asking Najib to recognize himself as the “rightful” president.
Vathemurthy said they will seek a meeting with Najib on his return to brief him of the developments and explain why Thanenthiran was sacked.
“We will be seeking his blessing for the new party line-up,” Vathemurthy said.
“The CC will meet on Feb 7 to decide on the new leader,” he added.
Najib, however, is not waiting for the Makkal Sakthi leaders to close ranks and come around to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil masses.
Neither is he waiting on the MIC to reform, reinvent itself and prepare for the next polls because with long-time president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu clinging on to power, the belief is taking hold that there is no hope for reform in the MIC.
The same dilemma is blighting the PPP where long-time president Datuk M Kayveas is also clinging on to power although in the PPP’s case a dynamic and popular leader in Datuk T. Murugiah is making waves in the community.
Najib, political sources said, is forging ahead, relying on his own steam and charisma and on individuals like Murugiah, grassroots leaders and Indian NGOs to reach out to the Indian voter.
“He is not sitting back and waiting for the “has been” leaders to deliver,” the sources said.
“He is building up a network involving individuals, emerging leaders like Murugiah, Datuk M. Saravanan in the MIC and new and old NGOs to come together to help win Indian votes,” the sources said.
As an example, they said, numerous NGO leaders and others are all heading for Madras this week to meet Najib to talk strategy and touch base.
“We are going to network among ourselves, listen to the PM and prepare to work the ground,” said one prominent Indian leader flying to Madras for the discussion.
“We are happy that the community is getting recognition from the PM himself,” the leader said, declining to be named.
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