MIC hopes LRA amendments will end disputes

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam hopes that the amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 will put to rest the disputes and conflicts between civil and Syariah laws and overlapping jurisdiction on interfaith child custody.

“We have been vigorously voicing these issues for many years and we are happy to see the fruits of our efforts. I have raised this matter at Cabinet meetings on several occasions and have personally met the Attorney-General and presented our views and suggestions to resolve this matter,” he said in a statement.

Dr. Subramaniam, who is also the Health Minister and part of a five-member committee to look into the interfaith custody issue, said he was pleased that the amendments will be tabled in Parliament in October and finally resolve this problem.

“We will request a briefing from the Attorney-General’s Chambers on these amendments and will put forward appropriate views if necessary to ensure a solution,” he said.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said divorce matters that involved civil marriages must be settled in a civil court even if one of the spouses converts to Islam, under legal reforms to be tabled in Parl­i­­a­­­­­­­m­ent in October.

In announcing changes to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (LRA), he said: “Any vacuum or overlap in existing laws can be resolved once changes are made to the Act.”

Malaysian Consultative Council Of Buddhism, Christianity, Hin­duism, Sikhism and Taoism secretary-general Prematilaka Seriseni said the Government’s proposal still did not address the problem of unilateral conversion of children.

He said the amendments were nothing new and only “mouths” the February 2016 Federal Court decision on the S. Deepa-versus-Izwan Abdullah custody battle where it was determined that the Syariah court had no jurisdiction over the dissolution of marriages even if one spouse had converted to Islam.

Amid all the legal inconsistencies, Prematilaka urged Najib to clear the air on the Government’s ban on unilateral conversions.

“The PM needs to follow his own Cabinet decision in 2009 and address this problem. We need to stop any parent from converting their children without consent of the other,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom welcomed Najib’s amendment proposals, claiming it would put to rest disputes that may arise when one spouse converts to Islam.

Ridhuan Tee is amazing, says MIC man

A MIC leader is amazed at how controversial academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is able to sink to a level which, he claimed, would be an impossible feat for others.

“Whenever I think he cannot go any lower than he already has, he surprises me with his unenviable skill of lowering the bar several more inches,” S Vell Paari told Malaysiakini.

The MIC central working committee member was responding to Ridhuan’s comments on the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) modules, which contained erroneous information on Hindus and Sikhism.

Asking critics not to be emotional, the academic had suggested that the slides be sent to an expert to determine if the contents could be accepted as a form of knowledge.

He also wanted the person responsible for the slides to be given a chance to defend his or her work.

However, Vell Paari said if Ridhuan needed an expert to determine if Hindus learned cleanliness from Muslims, as mentioned in the slides, then the latter too should be sent for expert evaluation.

“We need an expert to evaluate how this person is capable of making such moronic statements and be regarded as an academic at the same time.

“I am not sure what he teaches, but I am certain he would make an excellent geologist lecturer since his comments indicate he often has his head buried in the sand," he added.

Meanwhile, Vell Paari also questioned if the person responsible for the slides was attempting subtle preaching by casting other faiths in a negative light and placing Islam on a pedestal.

Although the MIC leader welcomed UTM’s move to initiate an internal investigation, he reiterated that nothing short of a dismissal would suffice.

“This person resorted to using false claims or outright lies in a module for educational purposes. As I said before, it can only come from a bigoted mind,” he added.

Vell Paari also suggested that a separate committee be formed comprising representatives from the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Sikh religious bodies, MIC and Indian educationists to sit together with UTM to get to the bottom of the matter as well as to vet modules to ensure there were no erroneous claims.

“This is not an issue which can be forgotten with a mere apology.

“As it concerns the younger generation of Malaysians and those entrusted with disseminating knowledge to them, the future well-being of the nation is at stake.

“So a strong and clear message must be sent to deter such episodes from recurring,” he stressed.

Subramaniam: Trend of distorting facts in text books on the rise

PETALING JAYA: There has recently been an increasing trend of people distorting facts to fit into the disordered and disturbed perception of individuals, says MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic).

In a statement on Tuesday, Dr Subramaniam said such individuals have led to the release of educational contents where facts have been dangerously mutilated by their disordered perception.

"Distorted historical facts are in school text books, in examination questions and now in university slides," he said.

He was speaking about a teaching module belonging to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) which was derogatory to the Hindu and Sikh communities in Malaysia.

The matter recently became viral on Facebook and deputy education minister Datuk P.Kamalanathan had met the vice-chancellor of the university on the matter on Monday.

The vice-chancellor had apparently claimed the module to be a 'mistake' and agreed to have it taken down.

Speaking on this matter, Dr Subramaniam said the “so-called mistakes" in the lecture slides of UTM have triggered a serious concern on the level of knowledge and depth of understanding of the various cultures and religions in Malaysia.

"This current case reflects that this desire to be ignorant had permeated to the dons of the ivory tower and the supposed pedestal of knowledge has become a pool of ignorance.

"We have seen this in schools before and now we realize it is also evident in universities," he said.

He then questioned the lack of intellectual honesty and added that there has to be a sincere desire by those in the educational system to be historically and factually true.

"Attempts to compare cultures and religions are always dangerous. It is dangerous even in the most liberated intellectual environment, what more in a multicultural and multi religious Malaysia?.

"Any attempt to do so has to be treated with careful steps," he said.

On Monday, Kamalanathan had posted a screen grab of the teaching module which had made claims that Hindus preferred to be 'dirty' and that Islam had taught Hindu followers "manners in life".

It stated that "some Hindu followers believed that dirt on the body is a form of ritual which could lead to attainment of Nirvana"

Another slide claimed that Sikhism is a combination of Hindu and Islam, but the founder of the religion had a shallow understanding of Islam.

MIC: Probe UTM under sedition law for erroneous 'dirty' Hindus claims

MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari has called for the police to investigate the matter of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) teaching module under the Sedition Act.

"Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has often warned that those who trample upon the religious and racial sensitivities would not be tolerated.

"This is a blatant example of how the sensitivities of Hindus and Sikhs have been trampled upon.

"What makes it worse is that the perpetrators are those responsible for shaping the future generations of Malaysians," he said in a statement today.

Vell Paari said that the vice-chancellor of UTM should not describe their module as having "mistakes" as they were utterly disrespectful, arrogant and bigoted.

He also questioned whether the module was vetted by the academic staff of the university before being used for teaching or was that another oversight.

It is disheartening, he said, that non-Muslims are often at the receiving end of such ugly episodes, and saddening that their children are shown such disrespect in an education institution.

"When there are perceived insults to Islam, there is an uproar and police investigations, even threats of racial violence.

"But when it involves the non-Muslims, it is simply dismissed as mistakes or oversights," Vell Paari (photo) lamented.

Issue an apology and explain

UTM landed in hot water after screenshots of module slides bearing UTM's logo went viral on social media.

The slides showed that UTM students were taught that Hindus preferred to be "dirty", and that the presence of Islam taught former Hindu followers "manners in life".

It stated that "some Hindu followers believe dirt on the body is a form of ritual which could lead to the attainment of nirvana".

Another slide claimed that Sikhism is a combination of Hindu and Islam, but its founder had a shallow understanding of Islam.

The vice-chancellor had later admitted there were mistakes and the module would be "corrected expeditiously".

Vell Paari said he would also be urging MIC president S Subramaniam to raise this UTM issue during the next cabinet meeting, as well as with Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh.

However, he still wants the vice-chancellor to issue an apology and explain how the module received the green light in the first place.

Those responsible for the module should be sacked, he added.

"I find this disgusting, and if the issue is swept under the carpet, with a mere 'admission' and promise to 'rectify the mistakes', then the future of our nation appears bleak," he said.

If Najib can deliver, why need MIC?

Why is the MIC still on the political scene? It has miserably failed Indians in the decades following independence and there is no guarantee that the party is in position to deliver goods for the Indian community.

By P Ramasamy

Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, has learnt one thing while in office; that he cannot trust or depend on the MIC to deliver goods to the Malaysian Indians.

He might have been besieged by the controversy surrounding the 1MDB issue and the “unaccountable” money that went into his private accounts, but still he knows who can be trusted in the Barisan Nasional.

The MIC might be around for a long time, but the leadership of the party is in a complete disarray. It has lost its direction and the purpose of its existence.

The recent actions of Najib convey the idea that he does not trust the MIC leaders. This is the reason why, under him, funds meant for the Indian community are not given directly to the MIC or its leaders. Rather in the last few years or so, funds are allocated directly to the Indian NGOs through the Prime Minister’s department.

He knows very well that the MIC, given the intense infighting within, is unable to deliver goods to the Indian community. Whatever funds allocated to the Indian community via the MIC have not reached the target group – the poor and neglected Indians.

Yesterday, Najib, in his campaign speech in Kuala Kangsar, announced special allocations for the Indian community there.

He allocated: RM100,000 for the upgrading the upgrading of the wall of the SJKT Ghandi Memorial; granted 0.6 hectares of land for a playing field; RM750,000 to the local Indian Association for a new building; RM115,000 to repair the fences and pave the road to a crematorium; and urged the Perak state government to resolve the housing problem of 20 Indian families in Bukit Merchu.

Following this, he asked the Indian community to support the BN candidate for Kuala Kangsar in the coming by-elections.

If this is the attitude of senior Umno leaders towards the MIC, then what is the purpose of the MIC? The party has miserably failed Malaysian Indians in the decades following independence and there is no guarantee that the party is in a position to deliver goods for the Indian community.

Shouldn’t the MIC quit the political scene?

P Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.

Ministry awaits police report in Syed Alman probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has concluded its investigations into the death of Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi, son-in-law of deputy prime minister.

Health minister Dr S. Subramaniam said today the ministry was awaiting an investigation report from the police which is expected to be completed by next week.

Syed Alman, 44, died after undergoing treatment at a dental clinic in Bangsar on June 1.

Subramanian said that after the respective reports were completed, the ministry would decide on the next course of action under the Health Ministry’s jurisdiction while the police will decide on any action based on the criminal procedure code, Bernama reported.

Syed Alman was the husband of Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, 37, eldest daughter of the deputy prime minister. He was reported to have fallen unconscious after the treatment and was taken to the University of Malaya Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead.

Precedent set, MIC leader moots bill on unilateral conversion

A MIC leader urged all lawmakers to take advantage of the government’s openness since a precedent had been set with the fast-tracking of the controversial Hudud Bill.

What transpired during the last Dewan Rakyat sitting for the May session, according to S Vell Paari, had opened the door for others.

“Since the bill set a precedent, other members cannot be denied from proposing bills to protect the rights of all Malaysians,” he added in a media statement to Malaysiakini.

The MIC central working committee member suggested a bill on the contentious issue of children being unilaterally converted to Islam by one of their parents who embraced the faith.

“Table bills to further strengthen and protect the rights of vernacular schools in Malaysia.

“Also a bill calling for serious punishment against those who continue to criticise communities in Malaysia for exercising their democratic right to vote whom they choose such as the Chinese community,” he said.

“When these bills are tabled, I hope they too will be fast-tracked in line with the current openness to such matters,” he added.

Vell Paari was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said who said the government fast-tracking Hadi's bill proved its openness and commitment to parliamentary reforms.

The proposal to bring forward the motion yesterday was brought by Azalina and seconded by Deputy Works Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had allowed the proposal to lift the motion listed as number 15 or the last item in the Parliament's order paper despite objection from DAP lawmakers.

The debate, which was slated for the afternoon, was postponed after Hadi requested for more time to allow MPs to prepare themselves.

Meanwhile, Vell Paari expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Azalina over the government’s commitment towards parliamentary reforms.

As for Hadi’s bill, the MIC leader said being a MP, the PAS president had the right to propose a bill which is in line with the policies of the Islamic party.

“But for those who are against it like me, it is also our democratic right to oppose the bill. We should call upon our representatives to lobby other MPs to vote against the bill,” he added.

Hadi’s bill seeks to amend the law governing the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts to allow for the implementation of the Islamic penal code in Kelantan.

MCA and other BN component parties have also voiced their objection.

Nagarajan N Marie is new sec-gen, replacing Sundaran

PUTRAJAYA: Nagarajan N Marie @ Marie Chett has been appointed as the secretary-general of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry effective May 16, Chief Secretary to the government Dr Ali Hamsa announced Friday.

Nagarajan, 58, succeeds the late Dr Sundaran Annamalai, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5.

He was previously the deputy secretary-general (Plantations and Commodities) of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry.

At the same ministry, he was previously Divisional Secretary of the International Relations Division and Divisional Secretary of the Oil, Fats and Sago Division.

“He has vast experience in the fields of planning, research and policy, international relations, commodity industries and economy through his service career,” Ali said in a statement.

Nagarajan has served in the civil service for more than 32 years since joining the service as Administrative and Diplomatic Officer on Jan 9, 1984.

He had also served in the International Trade and Industry Ministry as Principal Assistant Secretary, Asean Economic Cooperation Division and Assistant Secretary, Industrial Policy Division.

Ali said he believed Nagarajan’s qualification, knowledge, experience and credibility could continue the mission of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry to ensure Malaysia’s competitiveness at the international level in commodity-based industries and contribution towards national development.

– BERNAMA

MIC’s Vell Paari wants police to act on Palanivel video clip

An MIC division chief has decided to get an independent forensic expert, to determine if a video clip featuring Datuk G. Palanivel making candid disparaging remarks about party members and Indians was authentic and not doctored as claimed by the party president.

Kepong MIC chief, Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said police should also start immediate investigation to determine if the clip was doctored and not wait for a report to be lodged by Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

"Analysing the video, the man’s spoken words in terms of sound delivery, it coordinates well with his body language and movement.

"Anyway, I am not a forensic expert. So it's best to wait for the police to complete its investigation. I suggest the police immediately get a sound and voice expert to authenticate if it's Datuk Palani’s voice,” he said in a statement today.

Vell Paari said assuming the video was true, Palanivel’s comments was hurtful to the Indian community, adding that it was unacceptable to go against Barisan Nasional.

Yesterday, Palanivel denied making disparaging remarks about party members and Indians as featured in the video uploaded on a Facebook.

He claimed the contents of the three-minute video clip, uploaded on the Kitchen UP TV Facebook page, had been "doctored and completely untrue".

"I have never made and will never make such untrue statements or remarks," he said.

Palanivel said he would lodge a police report on the matter, and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

"I am appalled that people can stoop to such a low level to put up untrue video clip for reasons best known to them.

"I can only see this being the result of the fresh elections for MIC that I have called and the solid show of support by the branch chairmen of MIC to my leadership." he said.

In the video, a man resembling the Cameron Highlands MP had spoken candidly on several issues where he said MIC members would vote for the opposition in the event of the Permatang Pauh by-election.

He also touched about his smaller majority at the May 2013 national polls, and the opposition’s role in getting the large numbers.

It was reported that the Facebook page operator said he had uploaded the clip so that people would know "what type of leaders we have now".

He said the clip was shot at a private meeting between Palanivel and the crew.

“I could not provide you more details as this will put my safety at risk. I have more videos of Datuk Seri Palanivel’s confession, which I will upload very soon,” said Jason, the Facebook page operator, to The Malaysian Insider, while assuring that the clip was not fake or superimposed.

He said Palanivel should have been aware that he was being filmed as it was a formal interview and not a casual talk.

The Kitchen UP TV Facebook page does not carry much information about itself, and appears to have started its Facebook presence earlier this year.

The video comes on the heels of a crisis that has pitted party members against each other, following the Registrar of Societies's (RoS) declaration that the election of the three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) members in November 2013 was null and void.

In a letter dated December 5, 2014, RoS ordered MIC to call for a fresh election for the posts within 90 days.

The conflict within the party worsened after Palanivel on February 14 requested RoS to withdraw all its letters as it allegedly contravened the party constitution and Societies Act, and threatened to take legal action if RoS did not comply. – March 11, 2015.

It wasn't me, Palanivel says of 'doctored' video

MIC president G Palanivel said he would never make the colourful statements made in a video purported of him circulated online.

Blaming the video on the MIC re-elections, he said he will lodge a police report on the “doctored” video clip and urge action on those responsible.

 “I categorically state that the contents of the video clip have been doctored and are completely untrue. I have never made and will never make such untrue statements or remarks…

“I am appalled that people can stoop to such a low level to doctor untrue video clips for reasons best known to them,” he said.

“I can only see this being the result of the fresh elections for MIC that I have called and the solid show of support by the branch chairmen of MIC to my leadership.”

In the 3 minute 16 second video clip uploaded online, a man who looks and sounds like Palanivel he has close ties with PKR and blames Indian voters for BN’s smaller majority in Cameron Highlands in the 13^th general election.

"I won every Malay vote box you see, (the other candidates) will get 70 votes, I will get 400 votes. I only lost the bloody Indian vote box."

In the last general election, Palanivel defeated four other candidates with a slim 462 vote majority.

He received 10,506 votes with DAP's M Manogaran trailing behind him with 10,044 votes.

In the video, the person interviewed also disclosed how  PKR "commanders" brought the crowd to his recent birthday bash.

"I call all the PKR commanders to my house, I can show you photographs, I am close to PKR you see.

"They are the ones who brought the crowd (to my birthday party), not my own kind, our MIC fellas cannot do that," he said

Palanivel says ’bloody Indians’ prefer voting for PKR

MIC president is caught on video condemning Indians, and revealing his close ties with PKR leaders.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: A damaging video that shows MIC President G Palanivel condemning Indians, including those in his party, has been uploaded onto the Facebook page of KitchenUP TV.

Lasting some three plus minutes, with a follow-up video to come, Palanivel is seen and heard condemning Indians for preferring to vote the opposition instead of Barisan Nasional, although he said they would do this on the quiet.

In response to a question on how BN would fare should a Permatang Pauh by-election be called, Palanivel said, “Do you think the MIC vote is going to give to another Indian guy? They won’t give. They will all go to PKR … very quietly they’ll go and put for PKR … and Barisan will lose.”

He also blamed the Indians in Cameron Highlands for his poor performance in the last general election and explained: “I won every “peti undi Melayu, you see. Ah, that fella will get 70, I’ll get 400 votes.

“I only lost the bloody Indian vote box … I got 52 per cent Indian votes, I should get 70 per cent”.

In the video, Palanivel also explained the chaos that was bound to erupt in MIC if he was not made a candidate in the coming GE, after the Sultan of Pahang alluded to it last year in the wake of the tragic landslides there.

“(If) they don’t give me the candidature, … there will be an uproar, MIC will have disorder, you know. They won’t come and campaign and all.

“It’s a serious crisis, they cannot play the fool on this kind of thing la.”

Surprisingly enough, Palanivel also talked about his close ties with opposition party PKR, saying he had entertained many of the party’s top bosses at his recent birthday bash and that they were responsible for bringing in a huge crowd for the event.

He however did not have kind words for his own MIC members when he said, “They (PKR) are the ones who brought the crowd yesterday. Not my own kind. My own MIC fellas cannot do that.”

The Facebook page operator, when contacted by The Malaysian Insider, said he uploaded the video so that people would know “what type of leaders we have now.”

Giving his name only as Jason, he said he had more videos that he planned to release in stages.

MIC Youth chief C Sivarraajh meanwhile expressed his dismay over the president’s demeaning way of referring to Indians and said, ““As a president he should not say blood Indian. In whatever scenario, he should not say that. He must clarify whether he is the man in the video.”

MIC will have its day in court on March 16

March 16 set to review applicants filed by the MIC over Registrar of Societies’ directive to hold fresh elections.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) today set March 16 to hear submissions pertaining to two judicial review applications filed by some MIC leaders against the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over a directive for the party to hold fresh elections.

Judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad set the date in chambers in the presence of senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, representing the ROS, and lawyer B. Jadadish Chandra, representing the MIC leaders, who included president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Met by reporters outside the court, Jadadish Chandra said the ROS had submitted preliminary objections against the two applications and the matter would be heard on the same day.

The two applications for the judicial review were filed separately. The first application was filed on Feb 23 by MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) member A. K. Ramalingam, 47, who named the ROS and its director-general, Mohammad Razin Abdullah, as the respondents.

On Feb 24, Palanivel, vice-presidents Datuk S. Sothinathan and Datuk S. Balakrishnan, and former secretary-general A. Prakash Rao filed the second application.

They named the ROS and the Home Minister as the first and second respondent, respectively.

They are seeking, amongst others, a declaration that matters related to a political party’s elections are governed by that party’s constitution and could not be based on the opinion of the ROS.

They are also seeking a declaration that the decision of the MIC annual general meeting held on Nov 30, 2013, was legitimate and enforceable.

The four applicants also sought a temporary injunction to restrain the two respondents from taking any action against MIC nor issue any directives to the party until the disposal of the judicial review applications.

– BERNAMA

MIC not your father's property, Ramanan reminds Palanivel

Crisis can be resolved by following Najib’s advice, says MIC number two – Bernama

The MIC crisis could have been resolved if party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had acted on the advice of Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership, said deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak had met Palanivel and himself three times to find a solution to the long-standing crisis.

"There is intense lack of concern, and lack of decision, lack of wanting to solve this problem well. That is why we thought there is really a leadership crisis and leadership issue in handling this problem.

"The prime minister attempted to give advice many times and the advice is very simple – follow the RoS (Registrar of Society) consistently.

"I suppose when people have given advice to you many times and when people don't follow it then it's possible he (Najib) just say 'Okay, you do the things the way you all want and let the action take its course'," he said in Kuala Lumpur today.

Dr Subramaniam said MIC had lost many opportunities now as the party's problem could have been solved in an easier way if Palanivel had adhered to the RoS directive.

"This is actually a sad story of missed opportunities. We would have solved it earlier but we lost many chances because of so many issues.

"It has become very difficult now. It was easier if it (re-election) was done before."

The MIC crisis arose due to differences in views after the RoS declared the election of the three vice-president posts and 23 central working committee (CWC) posts at the party's general assembly in Malacca in November 2013 null and void.

Dr Subramaniam said in a bid to save the party from further crisis, the interim CWC 2009 had started to lay the ground work for the party's re-election as advised by the RoS on February 6.

In a letter dated December 5, 2014, the RoS ordered the MIC to call for a fresh election for the posts within 90 days.

Dr Subramaniam said because of the missed opportunity, the party now had to hold a total election for all posts.

The conflict within the party worsened after Palanivel requested the RoS to withdraw all its letters last February 14, as they allegedly contravened the party constitution and Societies Act and threatened to take legal action if the RoS did not comply.

Subsequently on February 23, MIC CWC member K. Ramalingam submitted an application for a judicial review against the action and statement made by the RoS and its director-general.

On February 9, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the RoS, which came under the jurisdiction of his ministry, had agreed that the MIC held re-elections for all posts between April and July this year to avoid being deregistered. – Bernama, March 5, 2015.

Violence, dirty tactics making PAS as bad as MIC in its heyday

This morning's assault on PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has only strengthened claims that the situation in the Islamist party was worse than in 1982 when its former president Tan Sri Asri Muda was kicked out, said party leaders.

Observers said today's incident puts PAS on the same level, or worse than what used to happen in MIC or Umno, where violence was reported on several occasions over the years.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, scuffles and chair-throwing at MIC grassroots meetings became synonymous with the Barisan Nasional component party.

Even today, the party, which has split into two factions, is accusing each other of using gangsters to subdue members and control the party.

Umno, too, has seen its share of shouting matches and violence at division meetings with the last one in 2008 where two Umno delegates, including a woman, were injured after they were hit by chairs flung during a scuffle which broke out at the Seremban Umno divisional meeting at the Tuanku Ja'afar Golf Club.

Analysts, observers and PAS activists said this morning’s incident was a manifestation of a culture that should not be associated with an Islamist party with followers taking pride in the way its leadership had settled party matters.

PAS practises the concept of leadership by ulama (clerics) but that is now marred by recent events involving violent behaviour like assaults and torching the property of party leaders, and members hurling foul language at each other.

Dzulkefly had previously told The Malaysian Insider that all this while, PAS leaders had attacked Umno by accusing them of not being united.

He said former PAS president Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor had always read a Quranic verse from surah Al-Hashr which means: "They look united but in their hearts, they are divided".

"The verse was used by Fadzil against Umno because of the divisions in the party, but now it has fallen back on PAS," he added.

Dzulkefly was assaulted by unknown assailants armed with sticks at the porch of his house in Shah Alam early this morning after returning home from morning prayers.

The PAS research director's lips were split and he suffered a swollen head. Dzulkefly lodged a police report in Shah Alam after receiving treatment at a clinic.

In a WhatsApp message following the incident, Dzulkefly warned all his friends to be careful over what had happened. "Be careful, my friends," he had said.

Former PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar in an immediate reaction following the assault on Dzulkefly said: "Just as I had said, PAS is now worse than Asri's time".

Kamaruddin, who is Tumpat MP, said that the incident was disheartening and expressed his sympathy with what had befallen his PAS colleague.

"First, Dr Hatta's (Ramli) car was torched, and now it is Dr Dzul's assault. Like I said, this is worse than Dr Asri's time," Kamarudin told The Malaysian Insider.

He also said factions were prone to criticise each other using coarse language.

He said the ulama wing, which had adopted a position that it was above criticism, was not averse to criticising others, using terms like “pig” and “devil” against its critics.

Similar ugly scenes played out in 1982, which led to Asri’s resignation.

Asri had resigned during the 1982 PAS muktamar after his policy speech was rejected by delegates. He was also mocked by a faction in the party. Prior to that, the PAS Youth muktamar was held elsewhere, and it approved a motion for PAS to accept the concept of "ulama leadership".

With Asri's resignation in 1982, PAS began its ulama leadership. The PAS leadership was taken over by Yusof Rawa and the Ulama Council was formed as the highest authority in the Islamist party.

Kamarudin was a political analyst then as he was a political science lecturer with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Since Yusof Rawa's time, the position of the PAS president has never been contested as those chosen had won by default.

But now, the leadership of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and the concept of ulama leadership in the party are being challenged.

In the last muktamar held in Batu Pahat last year, youth representatives who were in support of Hadi's leadership left the hall when PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu began giving his speech.

During a debate, those who were not aligned with the conservatives were booed while another ulama leader had recited a prayer, cursing other PAS leaders in his speech.

In his closing speech, Hadi had hit out at certain PAS leaders, calling them "barua" and asked those who were not in agreement with his leadership to "find new land, build new mosques and become their own imams", which was seen as an attempt to ask his critics to leave the party.

PAS central committee member Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa in a book titled "Menuju PAS Baru", said PAS needed a new theme after using the ulama leadership concept for more than 30 years.

He said PAS had to find a new approach as ulama leadership, which started with his father Yusof Rawa, had reached a plateau and was bound to go down.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat, in responding to Dzulkefly's assault, said he did not believe PAS members were responsible for the attack, suggesting instead that the attack was by those who wanted to take advantage of the situation in the Islamist party.

"I do not discount the possibility that there are certain parties who want to take advantage to provoke PAS leaders," he said in a Facebook post.

"Their aim is to break PAS up. May Allah punish their evil doings." – March 5, 2015.

MIC number 2 slams president’s move to sue RoS

Fresh elections for MIC is the best and quickest way to resolve the party's infighting, party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said, a day after president Datuk G. Palanivel filed for a judicial review against the Registrar of Societies's (RoS) directive for re-elections.

Subramaniam, said legal action would take too long, "up to years", and would have consequences on the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), which the Indian-based MIC is a part of.

“Sometimes, judicial processes are so long that they can take up to years, consequently affecting the party, community, the government, BN, and even the coming general elections,” Subramaniam, who is also the Health Minister, said after launching a food safety conference in Kuala Lumpur.

“As I have stated previously, a quick and immediate resolution should be achieved and by resolution I mean re-election.”

MIC has been in turmoil since its 2013 election for certain office bearers and central committee positions were disputed, leading to the RoS instructing the party to hold fresh polls or face possible deregistration.

Yesterday, Palanivel filed a judicial review against the RoS's order for MIC to hold fresh elections for several positions in the party.

It is the second legal attempt to challenge the RoS, after MIC central working committee (CWC) member K. Ramalingam submitted an application for a judicial review against the action and statements made by RoS and its director-general on February 23.

Subramaniam today disagreed that MIC would split up and said any setbacks would only be temporary.

“Sometimes party members have different views, … but to me I don’t see it as big problem, I think the focus should be on the resolution,” he said.

“Our focus is on re-elections now, not on other issues, we don’t want to be distracted,” he said, adding that preparations for re-elections had already started, citing the selection of candidates from all branches to be sent to the RoS as an example.

Palanivel’s move to file a judicial review has drawn criticism, such as former MIC strategic director S. Vell Paari, who said such a move was against the party’s constitution which required any member to get the approval of the CWC before taking party matters to court.

Dates have not been fixed for the re-elections yet. – March 3, 2015.

I have no intention to interfere with MIC crisis, says Zahid – Bernama

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid today said that he and the Registrar of Societies (RoS) do not intend to interfere with the affairs of any political parties, including MIC.

He said what was being conducted by the RoS and the Home Ministry was based on the Societies Act 1996 and the constitution of the party itself.

"What is being done is for the leadership and party members to adhere to their constitution which they, themselves, should respect as the constitution is theirs," he said in Putrajaya today.

He was asked to comment on the statement by various quarters in MIC that wanted him not to interfere in the party's latest action to submit an application for judicial review against RoS and its director-general Mohammad Abdullah Razin.

He said political problems should be resolved according to political ways and not through the legal process unless there was no other political solutions.

"I do not expect MIC to be deregistered. However, I thank MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel for holding the central working committee (CWC) meeting and I hope this matter can be resolved," said Zahid.

He also hoped that any disputed issues that was decided by RoS in the official letter sent to Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam could be looked into as soon as possible.

On February 9, Zahid said the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party must hold a fresh election for all elected posts between April and July this year to avoid MIC being deregistered due to its internal crisis.

The MIC crisis arose due to differences in views after RoS declared the election of the three vice-president posts and 23 CWC posts at the party's general assembly in Malacca in November 2013 null and void.

In a letter dated December 5, 2014, RoS ordered MIC to call for a fresh election for the posts within 90 days.

The conflict within the party worsened after Palanivel, last February 14, requested the RoS to withdraw all its letters as it allegedly contravened the party constitution and Societies Act and threatened to take legal action if RoS did not comply.

Subsequently on February 23, MIC CWC member K. Ramalingam submitted an application for a judicial review against the action and statement made by RoS and its director-general. – Bernama, March 2, 2015.

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Hulu Langat MIC deputy youth chief injured in 6-bullet barrage – Bernama

Hulu Langat MIC Youth deputy chief M. Thanabalan was seriously injured after six shots were fired at him at the Jalan Reko traffic light junction in Kajang at 12.46pm today.

Kajang district police chief, ACP Ab Rashid Ab Wahab, said Thanabalan, 38, who was in a Honda Accord, had stopped at the traffic light before he was approached by two men on a white Yamaha LC motorcycle.

"One of the suspects opened fire and shot the victim on the right shoulder, right cheek and right side of the chest," he said.

Ab Rashid said the victim who initially received treatment at the Kajang Hospital was transferred to Serdang Hospital and is now in the intensive care unit, in an unconscious but stable state.

Police were investigating the cause of the incident from various angles, including whether it was politically motivated, he added. – Bernama, March 2, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hulu-langat-mic-deputy-youth-chief-injured-in-6-bullet-barrage-bernama#sthash.GgrvVEkT.dpuf

Thousands back me, says Palanivel, but still no date for polls

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who has come under fire over his handling of the party’s crisis following its disputed election for office bearers in 2013, today declared that he has the support of more than 3,000 branches ahead of his meetings with divisions and branches beginning in April.

"More than 3,000 branches will support me...I will go and meet all levels," he said at his 66th birthday celebration at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He also said more than 2,000 people attended today's celebration, including all branch leaders.

He added that he had close to 800,000 people who supported him on Facebook, including NGOs, members and non-members.

"I see it on Facebook, close to 800,000 people support me, NGOs, members and non-members," he said, adding that he even had the support of one of his critics, P. Ramasamy, the deputy chief minister of Penang.

However, a check on his official Facebook account showed only a total of 10,075 likes as of this evening.

On the date of the party's central working committee (CWC) meeting, he said he needed to discuss with the party first before making an announcement.

"I will discuss with my party. I have not set anything. I need to discuss with another person. I cannot say anything now. I need to discuss (first)," he said without revealing the identity of the person.

The Registrar of Societies's (RoS) had ordered MIC to hold fresh polls for certain executive positions as well as for the central working committee posts, or risk deregistration.

But Palanivel has been accused of stalling the elections to tighten his grip on the party, with one of his moves being appointments of new party leaders at state level.

Last month the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam announced he would contest the number one party post, challenging Palanivel for control.

Dr Subramaniam was nowhere to be seen today’s celebration, and neither were Vice President Datuk M Saravanan, Youth leader C Sivarraajh and Wanita Chief M Mohana.

Palanivel said his birthday wish was that all those who supported him would continue their support.

"The most important wish, all these people who supported me, they continue to strongly support me, we need to put MIC in proper order,"

MIC Vice President I Datuk S Sothinathan and Vice President III Datuk S Balakrishnan, who were also present, addressed the packed hall.

Sothinathan said although the invitations for the birthday celebration were only sent out yesterday, many party leaders turned up to show their support for Palanivel.

Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously met Palanivel and Dr Suramaniam to solve the BN component party’s internal crisis.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also had suggested that MIC hold fresh elections, including at branch and division-level between April and July this year, to avoid deregistration.

He said RoS's order was meant to end the party's conflict over the election of leaders representing the Indian community. – March 1, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/thousands-back-me-says-palanivel-but-still-no-date-for-polls#sthash.NRYGU47O.dpuf

Vell Paari: Palanivel willing to destroy MIC

An MIC leader lambasted party president G Palanivel saying he's selfish enough to destroy the party, just to hang on to power.

Kepong MIC division chairperson S Vell Paari said that Palanivel's decision to appeal the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for fresh party elections stemmed not from advice from the BN leadership, but out of greed.

Vell Paari said Palanivel's supporters were out and about condemning the “interference” of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, yet kept mum when BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor gave his advice.

“Why never claim interference that time? The reason being, when something is favorable to you (Palanivel), you agree with it but you condemn and say interference when it's otherwise,” he said in a statement today.

Vell Paari (left) reiterated that Palani's current actions were not about the issue of interference by BN leadership or even ROS. Instead, it was an egotistical need to remain in power.

Zahid's advice for Palanivel to follow ROS order was initially met positively by the same supporters, who later lambasted the home minister for “interference”.

Zahid had said that he hoped MIC would not take ROS to court as the ROS was not taking sides, but merely doing its job.

Vell Paari also said that he was “deeply disturbed and disappointed” by the condemnation thrown at ROS and the BN leaders.

“Rather than fixing the issue, Palani's supporters are out in public condemning ROS and the BN leadership while trying to divert the actual issue of election fraud,” he asserted.

ROS had ordered the 68-year-old Indian party to hold fresh party elections by May this year, after it found election fraud and declared the positions of three vice-presidents, 23 central working committee members (CWC), several divisions and branches in MIC, null and void.

However it later issued a definitive letter ordering the MIC to conduct re-elections for all of its branches, wings, divisions and its central leadership as well as the election for the president's post, to be held in May.