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MIC re-election: 'PM must intervene'
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10, 2014:
In a bid to save the Indian-based party MIC from collapsing further during the upcoming re-elections, the “Gagasan Anti-Pemilihan” (GAP) movement has implored Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step in.
The GAP movement, comprising MIC members seeking immediate party re-elections, told a press conference today that the PM’s intervention was essential as the Barisan Nasional’s component party’s reputation was at stake.
“Due to the recent findings by the Registrar of Societies (RoS), fellow BN component parties have been making fun and belittling us.
“This is unacceptable and we need the Prime Minister to step in,” said Ampang Jaya MIC branch chairman Datuk Dr N. Muneandy at the party headquarters in Jalan Rahmat here.
Muneandy also suggested party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel step down as the party election director on moral grounds.
“It is not against the party’s constitution to become the election director as well as appoint members of the election committee.
“But since the findings of the RoS have revealed irregularities during the past elections, it is only right that he and the rest of the committee consider this suggestion.”
Meanwhile, former MIC Youth chief Datuk T. Mohan said the party leadership must ensure that the selection of the election committee was made fairly and comprised neutral members.
“We want an independent election committee to be set up to conduct this re-election to ensure the principles of democracy are upheld and the re-election is an open, fair and neutral affair.”
He said the independent committee could consist of MIC members or independent observers.
He also called on the party leadership to accelerate the re-election process as the 78-year-old party faced deregistration for the first time in its history should it fail to conduct the polls on time.
“We only have 85 days left from the due date set by the RoS. As such, the party leadership must start by electing a new and fair election committee.”
He said the party’s disciplinary committee should also open up investigations into the previous election committee.
On Saturday, the country’s oldest Indian-based party was instructed by the RoS to hold fresh elections within 90 days for the three vice-president posts and 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) members due to irregularities in the party elections.
During the press conference then, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the party would continue to be led by its existing leadership.
“We will decide on the date for the fresh elections when the party president is back,” he told reporters at the MIC headquarters in Jalan Ipoh.
It is learnt that Palanivel, who is also Natural Resources and Environment Minister, is currently attending an international conference in Lima, Peru, on official duty and is expected to return on Thursday.
According to RoS, fresh elections will also have to be held within 60 days for eight divisions, namely Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Bandar Baru Kulim, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin; and within 30 days for two branches, Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan.
The RoS also ordered re-election to be held within 30 days for several party positions: Batu Kawan division deputy chairman, Kota Raja division chairman, Tanjung Malim division chairman and Taman Koperasi Polis branch chairman.
The matter was conveyed by RoS to party secretary-general A Prakash Rao in a letter on Friday.
