Hold secret ballot, embattled Subbaiyah told

All is not well in Penang MIC as the state party chief continues to face criticism over his leadership.

GEORGE TOWN: MIC’s Senator PK Subbaiyah may have scored a major political point when several division leaders gathered at a hastily arranged press conference in Prai yesterday apparently to show support to his under-fire state party leadership.

But despite Subbaiyah’s gallant efforts to show that his leadertship has support , his main detractor, Bagan division leader Henry Benedict Asirvatham, remaines unconvinced.

Asirvatham insisted that the state chief does not command the majority support of the 13 MIC divisions in Penang.

The open support by eight division leaders may have given the embattled Subbaiyah a timely boost to strengthen his political standing especially with MIC top brass.

But in reality, Subbaiyah is facing the toughest time as the state party head since assuming office in May 2009.

There has been non-stop criticism of his leadership by Asirvatham, who faces an internal disciplinary hearing tomorrow for misconduct.

Ironically, Subbaiyah is also a member of the disciplinary committee headed by KS Nijhar.
Asirvatham wants Subbaiyah to validate his popularity by holding a secret balloting among all division leaders as a vote of confidence in his state leadership.

“I bet Subbaiyah will lose in a secret ballot among division leaders,” he said.
The press conference held at MIC state deputy chairman L Krishnan’s service centre yesterday evening was arranged  only for the Tamil press.

Diehard Subbaiyah backers

The division heads present were Kepala Batas’ SST Muniandy, Tasek Gelugor’s B Subramaniam and Bukit Mertajam’s KR Murugaiah; all from mainland; and Bukit Bendera’s M Karuppanan, Tanjung’s K Thangavelu, Bukit Gelugor’s K Loganathan, Bayan Baru’s K Sathiasilan and Balik Pulau’s P Arumugam, from the island.

Notable absentees were Nibong Tebal division chief Dr K Rajapathy, Jelutong’s P Muniandy and Batu Kawan R Muthiah.

State party Youth wing leader J Dhinagaran and his women wing’s counterpart, M Thanaletchumi @ Shanti, were also present.

On Sunday, FMT reported Asirvatham’s call on Subbaiyah to quit as state MIC chief to make way for a better leader.

He said Subbaiyah must go if MIC harboured any hopes of  winning at least one of the two state seats – Prai and Bagan Dalam that the party would contest in Penang under Barisan Nasional banner.

A check by FMT revealed that other than Permatang Pauh, helmed by Subbaiyah himself, only Tasek Gelugor and Bukit Mertajam divisions are diehard Subbaiyah backers.

In the press conference, Bukit Bendera chief Karuppanan expectedly declared his division’s full support to the beleaguered Subbaiyah. But he remains the only one to do so.

Insiders claimed Karuppanan, also the state party secretary, is Subbaiyah’s favoured candidate over state Youth leader J Dhinagaran and Asirvatham for the Bagan Dalam seat.

Dhinagaran, who is vying for the Bagan Dalam state seat, said the Youth wing fully backed Subbaiyah’s performance as state chief.

He denied any leadership crisis in Penang MIC as alleged by reports in Tamil newspapers.

Although Krishnan officially arranged for the press conference, it’s learnt that Subbaiyah apparently made numerous calls to many division leaders to attend the “show of support” press meeting.

At least four division leaders confirmed this to FMT. Among divisions strongly against Subbaiyah’s leadership are Nibong Tebal, Batu Kawan, Bagan, Tanjung, Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor.
Kepala Batas, Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau are fence-sitters.