Subramaniam lost his bid for the deputy president’s post. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — After failing to secure the deputy president’s post in the Sept 12 MIC elections, one of Datuk S. Subramaniam’s options was to lead an exodus of his supporters out of the party he had helped helm for over four decades.
That option is now starting to take shape after a senior MIC leader and Subramaniam supporter applied to set up a new Indian-based organisation that would act as an interim body to gather all of Subramaniam supporters under one umbrella.
The organisation, to be registered soon, can be easily converted into a political party or merged with other Indian-based political parties in time for the next general election.
Originally, Subramaniam’s supporters had planned to use the Makkal Sakti slogan to register the organisation but the emotive term was “usurped” by former Hindraf national co-ordinator R. S. Thanenthiran, who is now president of the Makkal Sakti Party Malaysia.
“Subramaniam is using the same method that the late (IPF founder Tan Sri M. G.) Pandithan had used when he was sacked from the MIC in 1988,” said a senior Subramaniam supporter who requested anonymity.
Pandithan first gathered his supporters under the “Natpani Mandrams” or friendly clubs, before converting it into the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and taking it into the opposition Gagasan Rakyat headed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Although IPF did not win any seats, its members helped to dramatically reduce the winning majorities of dozens of top Umno leaders all along the west coast.
“Subramaniam plans to do the same but only if the MIC door is firmly shut on him,” his supporters said.
Datuk Sery S. Samy Vellu, whose support in the MIC has eroded dramatically, plans to dissolve scores of branches and divisions on the grounds that they were “ineffective” – the same method used to cull branches supporting Pandithan and other rebel leaders in the MIC after 1990.
At the same time Samy Vellu is making it easier for his supporters to form new branches. “It is vintage Samy Vellu,” said senior another MIC leader. “Close one branch and form two new branches to stay in power.”
The MIC is also taking “disciplinary action” against key Subramaniam supporters on what MIC insiders say are “frivolous” grounds.
The Subramaniam backers behind the new organisation say getting registration is not a problem because the Barisan Nasional understands why they were leaving MIC.
“There is no room for us in the party anymore… the party is like a family property,” the backers said. “They don’t want us anymore.”
Subramaniam is also believed to be negotiating with all Indian organisations outside the MIC fold to gather them under one umbrella, including former Hindraf leaders like Vasantha Kumar, Ganapathy Rao and others.
Subramaniam is expected to reveal more about his plans in the weeks ahead, said a supporter.
“We are not resting but have been working hard since the Sept 12 elections,” a Subramaniam supporter said. “When we exit MIC it would end up as a shell.”
Several of the IPF factions are also expected to join up with Subramaniam in his new venture, his supporter’s said.
The BN would stand to gain even if the exodus from the MIC materialises as all factions will continue to support the ruling coalition.
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