PETALING JAYA: Barely two months after taking over as MIC president, G Palanivel today made two major changes to the top leadership by appointing former secretary-general S Murugesan as information chief to replace Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan.
Palanivel also appointed Vel Paari, son of former MIC supremo S Samy Vellu, as the party’s media relations head, a newly-created post. Both Murugesan and Vel Paari are in the party’s all-powerful MIC central working committee (CWC).
Vel Paari is expected to handle issues relating to the media, including online news portals as well as bloggers.
“Their appointments take immediate effect,” party secretary-general, T Rajagopalu, told FMT today.
The MIC CWC held its first meeting of the year in Segamat, this morning.
Murugesan was sacked as secretary-general of the party by Samy Vellu last year for criticising the leadership following the expulsion of former deputy Youth leader, V Mugilan and CWC members, G Kumar Aamaan and K P Samy.
The CWC today also appointed former vice-president KS Nijhar as chairman of an organising committee to tackle social issues affecting the Indian community.
“And party vice-president SK Devamany will head our small and medium enterprises (SME) committee to help and promote our Indian SME businessmen,” said Rajagopalu.
Bold moves by Palanivel
The CWC also reinstated the membership of former Petaling Jaya Selatan MIC division chief, V Subramaniam, better known as Barat Maniam. He, too, was sacked by Samy Vellu for criticising the leadership a year ago.
“As for the other three (Mugilan, Kumar Aamaan and KP Samy), we will consider their appeal at the next CWC meeting,” said Rajagopalu.
The three were sacked for asking Samy Vellu to step down. They went on to form Gagasan Anti Samy Vellu (GAS) which was disbanded after Samy Vellu stepped down in mid-December last year.
They were partly responsible in pressuring Samy Vellu to vacate the party top post sooner than the 2011 deadline Samy Vellu had set for himself.
Murugesan conveyed his appreciation to Palanivel for appointing him into his new position.
“I’m willing to serve the party in whatever capacity. The president has given me a clear directive and I intend to carry out my duties,” said Murugesan in a text message to FMT.
Judging by the CWC’s decisions, it seems like Palanivel is undoing the follies of Samy Vellu, who was on a “sacking rampage” prior to his retirement from active politics.
Although the appointment of his son to the media head post could go down well with Samy Vellu and his hardcore supporters, the appointment of Murugesan, giving a national post to Nijhar and the reinstatement of Subramaniam might ruffle some feathers.
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