FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: While speculation is rife that V Mugilan may be named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, his party however is considering taking disciplinary action against him.
According to sources, the Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief could be sacked from the party.
Speaking at an emergency Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting tonight, MIC president S Samy Vellu issued a dire warning to those "attempting to destroy" the party.
Sources said Samy Vellu had stressed that those who are trying to create confusion will be dealt with severely.
"Mugilan's name is on that list. The president said Mugilan will be given until 10am tomorrow morning in order to investigate what he has done. Following this, disciplinary action will be taken against him."
In view of this, sources said Mugilan, who has been accused of using "backdoor tactics" to be named as the candidate, could be expelled from the party.
'Field Palani or Umno can have the seat'
During the two-hour meeting, which commenced at 10pm at the party headquarters, Samy Vellu had spoke at length regarding the controversy surrounding the candidate for the seat.
He also explained what had transpired between him, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with regards to this issue.
"Although he did not say who the candidate will be, the MIC president however suggested that if the BN leadership does not field (MIC deputy president G) Palanivel, then Umno can take the seat," said the sources.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the BN elections director, is expected to announce the BN candidate tomorrow.
Previously, reports have emerged that local Umno leaders prefer Mugilan, while MIC leaders in Hulu Selangor have warned of a boycott should Palanivel be dropped.
The by-election is on April 25 and nomination is on April 17.
PKR yesterday named its supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim for the seat which fell vacant following the death of PKR's Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25.
Zainal defeated four-term MP Palanivel in the March 2008 general election with a wafer-thin majority of 198 votes.
When the seat became vacant, MIC immediately submitted Palanivel's name as the candidate.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin upped the ante today by saying that a young candidate should be named by BN for the seat in what appears as an endorsement for Mugilan.
"While I said before that we want a youth-friendly candidate, now I am saying that we want a young candidate. I really hope that a young candidate will be fielded," he said.
Should Palanivel be dropped, it will be a massive blow for MIC and its president. The move could be viewed as Umno usurping the leadership role of the BN component party.
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