‘Probe irregularities in MIC polls’

Former MIC Youth chief wants a representative from the MACC and the Registrar of Societies in establishing an independent body to investigate the polls irregularities.

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of disgruntled former MIC leaders today submitted a memorandum, demanding fresh election to be conducted for the party Central Working Committee (CWC) positions.

In addition, they also urged the party leadership to set-up an independent body to investigate claims of irregularities, which was said to have occurred in the party polls conducted last month.

The delegation of 20 candidates who contested the polls led by former MIC youth chief T Mohan handed over a memorandum containing the demands to the party headquarters this morning.

Also present were former CWC members Madhu Marimuthu, VM Panjamoorthy, S Ananthan and SP Manivasagam.

“More than 20 MIC leaders have signed the memorandum to press the leadership to conduct fresh polls,” said Mohan, after delivering the memorandum to MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam.

MIC held its party polls on Nov 30 in Malacca. In the polls, several top guns such as former Youth chief SA Vigneswaran, former vice president SK Devamany and Mohan lost in their bid to become vice presidents.

Mohan said that the disgruntled members have highlighted 13 major issues, pertaining to the irregularities in the party polls in the memorandum.

Among the points highlighted are:

The irregular increase of ballot papers in the vice president polls result, even more than the number of delegates.

The missing ballot boxes which has yet to be delivered to the party headquarters.

The involvement of a mysterious woman in the counting process, known as ‘Mala’.

“We want the party leadership to reply to our memorandum within 14 days. Otherwise, we will bring the matter to next level,” said Mohan.

Asked on the independent body, Mohan stressed that it would be the best way to investigate the electoral discrepancies in the party polls.

Mohan also welcomed the idea of having representatives from the MACC and Registrar of Societies (ROS) to be part of the independent body.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam promised that would raise the matter with party president G Palanivel

“Being a deputy president, I will not take sides. The leaders who submitted this memorandum are MIC members too,” he said.