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Friday 18 February 2011

Palanivel makes sweeping changes in MIC

Newly appointed MIC chief makes a drastic move by appointing S Murugesan as party secretary-general and V Mogan of Negri Sembilan as MIC information chief.

Newly appointed MIC president G Palanivel has made sweeping changes to the party national line-up, including re-appointing S Murugesan as party secretary-general.

Murugesan, a lawyer-cum-politician, was removed from the post early last year by the then president S Samy Vellu after the former criticised him for sacking several national leaders.

Palanivel, who took the helm of the party late last year, had appointed Murugesan as party information chief barely three weeks ago.

He has also appointed V Mogan, the Negri Sembilan MIC chief, as the party information chief in place of Murugesan.

The current secretary-general T Rajagopalu will take over Mogan’s place as the Negri Sembilan MIC chief.

All these changes were endorsed by the party’s central working committee (CWC).

“The decision was following a brainstorming meeting with CWC members so that each and every member can give their views and ideas freely without fear or favour . The meeting took place in Kelab Darul Ehsan in Ampang,” sources told FMT.

While the news of the appointments has made an appearance on Twitter as well as SMS, there is no official confirmation on it from the party headquarters.

Senators to serve out last term

“At the meeting, the president also announced that all five senators in the party would serve their term and that their term would not be extended,” said a MIC CWC member, who declined to be named.

MIC has six senators, including Palanivel. Palanivel was made senator last year before he was appointed deputy minister by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The remaining five senators were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T Murugiah, Dalgit Singh Dalliwal, MIC Puteri chief J Usha Nandhini, Tapah MIC division chief S Malasingham and Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur MIC deputy head Chandrasekhar Suppiah.

Murugiah’s senatorship term is expected to expire in April this year. However, it is unclear when the terms of the other senators were expiring but sources say all five MIC senators would vacate their positions in stages.

Malasingham’s senate will end in mid-2012 while the rest, Usha, Dalgit and Chandrasekar’s term would end in stages before October this year.

“Murugesan will not be appointed senator. A veteran will be appointed instead. Usha’s senate seat will go to the Wanita wing, Chandrasekar’s place will be taken-up by the Youth wing while Dalgit’s will go to Jaspal Singh (the MIC treasurer general).

“All senate appointments will only be for one term from now on so that as many party members can serve in the senate. This one term senate ruling was made by Samy Vellu last year during a CWC meeting and it was endorsed by the CWC,” said sources.

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