Murugiah ‘ousts’ Kayveas as PPP chief

Datuk T. Murugiah, gesturing at the press conference, over the rightful presidency of PPP. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, May 24 — In the style of its birthplace Perak, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) today has two presidents with Datuk T. Murugiah replacing Datuk M. Kayveas in an “emergency meeting” that is questionable in legality.

Murugiah was sacked from the PPP with six supporters last week but his supporters called for today's emergency meeting at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) and voted him president.

The senator and deputy minister said he will inform Barisan Nasional chairman and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about the election.

Earlier, PPP members from around the country were bussed in for the meeting at the PICC where a resolution to overturn a decision by the party disciplinary committee on May 16 to expel Murugiah along with six supporters was passed unanimously earlier this morning.

Murugiah was then elected with three new vice-presidents and a new supreme council in the meeting held under tight security with heavy police presence besides officers from the Prime Minister’s Department, where Murugiah is a deputy minister.

Murugiah stressed to reporters that he was caught by surprise with the outcome of the meeting.

He described his reversal of fortune as a second political tsunami and change for the country.

“I will not threaten to leave the Barisal National,” Murugiah said in order to contrast his stand from his predecessor. However the fact the meeting was meant to dump Kayveas was obvious to everyone from the start.

PPP members from around the country were bussed in for the ‘EGM’ at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. — Picture by Jack Ooi

Banners proclaiming Murugiah as president had been prepared while prominent pictures of him with prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was also projected into the hall after he was successfully elected.

He said his first order of business was to meet the prime minister and other coalition leaders to explain the new developments in the party.

He will also meet the Registrar of Society (ROS) tomorrow on the new changes to the party.

He was visibly upset when asked about the legality of the meeting or if it would be challenged in court. He said it was up to the ROS to endorse the meeting and resolutions.

“Don’t ask me about the legality. I did not organise the meeting and I was just invited to come,” he said, adding there were five lawyers acting as independent observers and reporters could ask them if the meeting was held legally.

Murugiah snapped at a broadcast journalist who asked if the party now had two presidents and how he could have elected since he was expelled from the party.

“That is an allegation.” he said, adding angrily that a resolution was passed to overturn the decision.

He indicated that Kayveas would find out about the latest development from the press.

The press conference then ended abruptly.

During his speech earlier he told members that he would work towards getting PPP their own building and getting the party financial accounts in order.

He promised to serve the party as president and as a deputy minister.