Palanivel claims deputy blocked rep from PM meet

 

The spat in MIC has reached new heights, with president G Palanivel accusing his deputy S Subramaniam of sidelining the former’s representative in a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak this morning.

Palanivel - who could not attend the meeting himself because he was caught up with an emergency concerning his wife - had sent S Sothinathan as his representative to the meeting with the premier to discuss the issue between MIC and the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Sothinathan (right), however, was blocked from entering the meeting and only notified of the proceedings after it ended.

“Sothinathan was not allowed to be in the meeting, and only the deputy president was met by the prime minister and others present.

“He was only informed of the proposals - but more like decisions - as announced by (Federal Territories Minister) Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor after their meeting with the deputy president,” Palanivel said in a statement today.

He also flayed Subramaniam for allegedly "selling out" to third parties who seek to intervene in MIC matters.

“The deputy president of MIC may be willing to allow third parties (BN) to run MIC and lose our self-dignity and respect, but I will not.

“BN has no jurisdiction whatsoever to take over the administration of the party elections in direct contradiction to the provisions of the MIC constitution, as well as the Societies Act 1966.

“I am still shocked that the deputy president can agree, in my absence, to let others run MIC. It is totally disgusting the extent that one can go to further one’s political agenda,” Palanivel - who is also the natural resources and environment minister - added.

'Palani prolonging crisis'

Meanwhile, Subramaniam in a separate statement, shot back at Palanivel, blaming him for the current crisis that MIC is in.

“Palani's statement questioning my committment to uphold the party’s image and dignity is unwarranted. I would like to remind Palanivel that he is responsible for all the party’s current problems.

“Many of the irregularities of the party election can be directly or indirectly related to him. His inability and refusal to address the issue has led to the current crisis,” the health minister said.

Palanivel’s accusation of Subramaniam (left) allowing third parties to intervene in MIC politics also warranted a further tongue-lashing from the deputy president.

“His decision to take this matter to court is an attempt to prolong the crisis and further destabilise the party.

“It is absolutely disgusting how the president has procrastinated on this issue and has allowed something which could have been solved easily in the early days to become such a major problem affecting all members of the party and necessitating third party interventions,” said Subramaniam.

He added that in the meeting that took place this morning, BN was "acting as facilitators in mediating in areas of dispute".