The MIC annual general assembly is expected to be fiery and delegates are expected to show their might at the ballots.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC annual general assembly in Malacca this weekend is expected to be explosive with more than 1,400 divisional delegates voting to pick three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members, who will lead the party for the next three years.
The party is holding its polls for the first time since 2009 as it had postponed the election pending the 13th general election which was held in May.
The party held its presidential polls in August which saw G Palanivel return uncontested.
Nominations for deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members were held early this month. Deputy president Dr S Subramaniam was returned unopposed.
The win of both Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam was result of a peace deal brokered by Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chief Najib Tun Razak. The deal was clinched in the presence of Palanivel, Dr Subramaniam, incumbent vice-presidents M Saravanan and SK Devamany.
Under the deal, Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam would retain their positions uncontested, and the two leaders would not put up their “preferred” candidates for the veep contest.
While the leaders made these decisions, the ground is simmering as grassroots leaders were not consulted on the matter. Until today, neither the party president nor leaders who attended the meeting with Najib have not disclosed to lower rank leaders what transpired in the meeting.
“What they got was just direction to do this and that. They have the right to know what is happening. Grassroots leaders are also in the dark over the running of the party.
“The MIC has become lethargic. There are no statements from leaders, especially the president, on the issues which crop up from time to time. Issues like temple land and issuance of MyKad are not being championed.
“MIC used to be a vibrant party. No matter what is said about (S) Samy Vellu (the former president), he voiced his displeasure if he sees anything unfair to Indians. He was a cabinet minister yet he never feared talking against the government in fighting for the Indians.
“This silent kind of leadership has irked members and grassroots leaders. In the party, decisions taken lack transparency. Decisions are taken without any consultation with the central working committee. It looks like a few leaders decide and others are required to follow,” said a party leader, who declined to be named.
Youth fiasco
The leader said the Youth election fiasco is just one example of how just a few leaders decide on things and “when things get hot, they reverse what they had decided upon”.
Two days ago party secretary-general A Sakthivel announced that the party was suspending its national Youth election results as there were bankrupts who voted in the polls. He also said there was a case of delegate who was overseas, but yet his ballot was cast by someone else at the polls.
Barely 24 hours later, Palanivel summoned an emergency central working committee meeting to discuss the issue. FMT learnt that he got an earfull from other leaders for suspending the Youth election results. Soon after the meeting, Sakthivel again was made to face the media, to announce that the party had reinstated the Youth polls results.
The leadership’s flip-flop is very embarrassing to members who have to face their counterparts from other political parties, especially the opposition.
This brings up another issue. Why did Palanivel attempt to suspend the Youth polls results?
Sources reveal that he was trying to ensure that the 38-block votes from the Youth wing did not go to former Youth chief T Mohan who is contesting a vice-president post.
Palanivel had been “whispering” to grassroots leaders aligned to him to support his “preferred” vice-president candidates. This goes against the peace deal brokered by Najib.
There are eight contestants in the veep race, including two incumbent vice-presidents.
The others are Mohan and another former Youth chief SA Vigneswaran, former vice- president S Sothinathan, treasurer-general Jaspal Singh, Johor Baru division leader KS Balakrishnan and Bukit Bintang division leader James Selvarajah.
“Palanivel knows Saravanan is leading the race. He is riding high after the government agreed to form the New Affirmative Action Movement, which is expected to assist Indian youth through entrepreneurship, business financing and human capital development.
“His ideas have been well received in the party and is seen at the future leader of the MIC.
“Mohan is close behind. Palanivel needs to kill off both these leaders for his own ‘preferred’ list of leaders to come in. These two leaders have the backing of the Youth wing. So if the Youth wing is disqualified then the two will not get the Youth votes, thus Palanivel would be able to reduce votes of these two leaders,” said a source, who attended the central working committee meeting yesterday.
All this had fired up grassroots leaders who now feel that they are in the party just for status quo and to keep Palanivel president.
Famous Five
There are also complaints that the MIC headquarters is slow in moving on matters pertaining to the party.
“We also have the Famous Five who make decisions for the party’s 640,000 members,” said the leader.
The ‘Famous Five’ he referred to are Palanivel, Sakthivel, Jaspal, Kajang division leader N Rawisandiran (who contested the Batu Caves state seat and lost in the last general election) and P Palaniappan, Palanivel’s political secretary.
The leader claimed that the five leaders were the ones making important decisions in the party without any consultation with leaders holding national positions.
“Everyone knows this. This too has made division and branch leaders angry. They will use this AGM and the ballot to tell Palanivel to buck up.
“I also expect the debates on the presidential address to be fiery. But this depends on who is allowed to speak at the debates. Since Sakthivel is secretary-general, they will definitely not allow those known to be against Palanivel to take the rostrum in the debates but we will see in 48 hours,” he added.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC annual general assembly in Malacca this weekend is expected to be explosive with more than 1,400 divisional delegates voting to pick three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members, who will lead the party for the next three years.The party is holding its polls for the first time since 2009 as it had postponed the election pending the 13th general election which was held in May.
The party held its presidential polls in August which saw G Palanivel return uncontested.
Nominations for deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members were held early this month. Deputy president Dr S Subramaniam was returned unopposed.
The win of both Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam was result of a peace deal brokered by Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chief Najib Tun Razak. The deal was clinched in the presence of Palanivel, Dr Subramaniam, incumbent vice-presidents M Saravanan and SK Devamany.
Under the deal, Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam would retain their positions uncontested, and the two leaders would not put up their “preferred” candidates for the veep contest.
While the leaders made these decisions, the ground is simmering as grassroots leaders were not consulted on the matter. Until today, neither the party president nor leaders who attended the meeting with Najib have not disclosed to lower rank leaders what transpired in the meeting.
“What they got was just direction to do this and that. They have the right to know what is happening. Grassroots leaders are also in the dark over the running of the party.
“The MIC has become lethargic. There are no statements from leaders, especially the president, on the issues which crop up from time to time. Issues like temple land and issuance of MyKad are not being championed.
“MIC used to be a vibrant party. No matter what is said about (S) Samy Vellu (the former president), he voiced his displeasure if he sees anything unfair to Indians. He was a cabinet minister yet he never feared talking against the government in fighting for the Indians.
“This silent kind of leadership has irked members and grassroots leaders. In the party, decisions taken lack transparency. Decisions are taken without any consultation with the central working committee. It looks like a few leaders decide and others are required to follow,” said a party leader, who declined to be named.
Youth fiasco
The leader said the Youth election fiasco is just one example of how just a few leaders decide on things and “when things get hot, they reverse what they had decided upon”.
Two days ago party secretary-general A Sakthivel announced that the party was suspending its national Youth election results as there were bankrupts who voted in the polls. He also said there was a case of delegate who was overseas, but yet his ballot was cast by someone else at the polls.
Barely 24 hours later, Palanivel summoned an emergency central working committee meeting to discuss the issue. FMT learnt that he got an earfull from other leaders for suspending the Youth election results. Soon after the meeting, Sakthivel again was made to face the media, to announce that the party had reinstated the Youth polls results.
The leadership’s flip-flop is very embarrassing to members who have to face their counterparts from other political parties, especially the opposition.
This brings up another issue. Why did Palanivel attempt to suspend the Youth polls results?
Sources reveal that he was trying to ensure that the 38-block votes from the Youth wing did not go to former Youth chief T Mohan who is contesting a vice-president post.
Palanivel had been “whispering” to grassroots leaders aligned to him to support his “preferred” vice-president candidates. This goes against the peace deal brokered by Najib.
There are eight contestants in the veep race, including two incumbent vice-presidents.
The others are Mohan and another former Youth chief SA Vigneswaran, former vice- president S Sothinathan, treasurer-general Jaspal Singh, Johor Baru division leader KS Balakrishnan and Bukit Bintang division leader James Selvarajah.
“Palanivel knows Saravanan is leading the race. He is riding high after the government agreed to form the New Affirmative Action Movement, which is expected to assist Indian youth through entrepreneurship, business financing and human capital development.
“His ideas have been well received in the party and is seen at the future leader of the MIC.
“Mohan is close behind. Palanivel needs to kill off both these leaders for his own ‘preferred’ list of leaders to come in. These two leaders have the backing of the Youth wing. So if the Youth wing is disqualified then the two will not get the Youth votes, thus Palanivel would be able to reduce votes of these two leaders,” said a source, who attended the central working committee meeting yesterday.
All this had fired up grassroots leaders who now feel that they are in the party just for status quo and to keep Palanivel president.
Famous Five
There are also complaints that the MIC headquarters is slow in moving on matters pertaining to the party.
“We also have the Famous Five who make decisions for the party’s 640,000 members,” said the leader.
The ‘Famous Five’ he referred to are Palanivel, Sakthivel, Jaspal, Kajang division leader N Rawisandiran (who contested the Batu Caves state seat and lost in the last general election) and P Palaniappan, Palanivel’s political secretary.
The leader claimed that the five leaders were the ones making important decisions in the party without any consultation with leaders holding national positions.
“Everyone knows this. This too has made division and branch leaders angry. They will use this AGM and the ballot to tell Palanivel to buck up.
“I also expect the debates on the presidential address to be fiery. But this depends on who is allowed to speak at the debates. Since Sakthivel is secretary-general, they will definitely not allow those known to be against Palanivel to take the rostrum in the debates but we will see in 48 hours,” he added.
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