Nomination forms anger MIC branch heads

“The party wants to go in a new direction but we are still clinging to old ways. How are we going to get the support from the Indian community if they see MIC carrying on the same old way?” 

(The Malay Mail) - The upcoming MIC party elections have come under scrutiny again following allegations of a new method of intimidation that allows the party to identify those opposing party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Several branch chairmen claim the nomination forms for the president’s post came with the president’s name printed on it.

“This type of nomination forms will not allow for a free and fair presidential election,” said a branch chairman, who wanted to remain anonymous.

He said this could prevent others from challenging for the post.

“The party headquarters may claim this was how it was done during the tenure of former party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu but it does not mean it is the right thing to do,” he said.

“MIC members should have spoken out about this but none did. We should not accept practices which were not right.

“The party wants to go in a new direction but we are still clinging to old ways. How are we going to get the support from the Indian community if they see MIC carrying on the same old way?”

The branch chairman said a few of his colleagues informed him they received two sets of forms — one with Palanivel’s name printed on them and the other blank.

“The blank forms are for branch chairmen known to be against Palanivel,” he said.

Some 3,900 branch chairmen are eligible to vote at the election next month. A candidate must get 50 nominations before he is eligible to contest.

Each nomination form must have the signatures of six branch chairmen.

This means a candidate must have 300 branch chairmen supporting the nomination.