Subbaiyah must go to save MIC

A division leader in Penang says the veteran state leader is unpopular and should stand aside but Subbaiyah says he has the support of all in the state.

GEORGE TOWN: Senator PK Subbaiyah must quit as Penang MIC chief if the party is to have any chance of winning even one state seat in the next general election, said a division leader here today.

Bagan MIC division head Henry Benedict Asirvatham said it was time for the party to appoint a more energetic, dynamic, vibrant, considerate and fair leader to helm the Penang chapter.

“If MIC is serious about winning back at least one of the two seats lost in the last election, then the party should replace Subbaiyah with someone far better.

“It must be someone who puts party interests above selfish interests,” the outspoken division leader told FMT.

Under Barisan Nasional electoral arrangement, MIC is being allotted two state seats of Prai under the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency and Bagan Dalam under the Bagan parliamentary constituency.

Henry also pointed out Subbaiyah’s declining leadership popularity among division and branch leaders and members in Penang.

“Majority leaders and members simply dislike Subbaiyah,” claimed Henry, who faces an internal disciplinary inquiry on June 9 for an alleged misconduct which could see him being suspended from the party.

Subbaiyah’s rebuttal
However, when contacted, Subbaiyah said not a single division leader in Penang had ever voiced displeasure and disapproval to his leadership.

He claims that the cooperation between the state and divisional leaderships was healthy and progressive.

“The state leadership had forged close working ties with all division leaders.

“We are determined and focused in retaining both seats from the DAP.

“Our chances are good indeed,” he told FMT.

Henry on the other hand, claimed that Subbaiyah, who took the state leadership from Nibong Tebal division head Dr K Rajapathy in May 2009, was merely surviving politically due to tacit support from party president G Palanivel.

He insisted that the state leadership under Subbaiyah, a former state Barisan Nasional government executive councillor, would be a liability to MIC prospects to regain a seat in Penang.

“Subbaiyah practices double standards and divide and rule policies. He wants to sweep up all important positions to himself or his cronies,” he claimed.

He pointed out that Subbaiyah’s recent appointment as a senator had irked many local leaders.
Due to his fast fading popularity, Henry said many grassroots leaders and members would stay away from party electoral campaigns.

“The boycott will sabotage MIC internally . . . that’s bad. MIC would have already lost internally before even entering into the election battle,” Henry insisted.

Besides Bagan, other divisions said to be not in favour of Subbaiyah’s leadership are Nibong Tebal, Kepala Batas, Batu Kawan, Bukit Gelugor, Tanjong and Jelutong

Permatang Pauh, headed by Subbaiyah aside, Bukit Mertajam and Tasek Gelugor divisions are learnt to be in favour of the incumbent.

Bukit Bendera, Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau divisions are learnt have taken a middle stand.
Subbaiyah however, claimed that only one among 13 divisions in the state had been against his senatorship.

But, he was willing to listen to any dissenting voices against his leadership from other division leaders.
“I am always open to discussions to resolve any issue. If the division leaders have something against me then I want to know the fault and resolve it amicably,” he said.

Domestic inquiry
Meanwhile, Henry said he was ready to defend himself before the party leadership committee next Thursday.
He was slapped with a show cause letter dated May 18 demanding him to explain on why he criticised Palanivel openly in FMT.

The 50-year-old division leader replied to it with an explanation letter dated May 28.

Henry has claimed that Palanivel was plotting to ‘politically kill’ party deputy president Dr S Subramaniam, the Human Resources Minister.

He was informed to attend the inquiry by disciplinary committee chairman KS Nijhar on June 1.

Insiders said that the disciplinary action could be a dirty tactic to derail Henry’s chances to become the party candidate in Bagan Dalam constituency in next general election.

It’s learnt that MIC has so far short-listed Penang MIC secretary M Karuppanan and youth chief J Dhinagaran as potential candidates for Bagan Dalam, currently held by DAP’s A Tanasekharan.

However Henry is the pick of party grassroots members, especially from mainland, and BN component parties as well.

The party’s shortlisted candidates for Prai are state deputy chairman L Krishnan and Batu Kawan chief R Muthiah.