Dr Subramaniam confirms not contesting MIC presidency

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam today confirmed he would not be contesting the post of party president post in the elections next month. He said the decision was made on mutual agreement and not a compromise. Having agreed to not vie for the party's leadership post, Dr Subramaniam said he believed that there would also be no contest for the deputy president's post. "The decision was made on mutual agreement by all quarters for the sake of the party. It is not a compromise. "If it is a compromise, there will one who gets his way and the other having to back out, but the decision for the no-contest was agreed to by all quarters," he told a media conference at his office here today. Dr Subramaniam, who is the health minister, called on all MIC members to give priority to party unity and to give their undivided support to the party president at the party elections next month. "I hope that after this, party members will unite and there will be no factions among them," he added. Prior to this, there had been speculation that Dr Subramaniam would go for the MIC presidency. On an announcement by MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today that he would step down as party president in 2016, Dr Subramaniam said it was to give time for new leaders to make preparations for the 14th general election. On the three posts of MIC vice-president, Dr Subramaniam did not rule out the possibility of a contest for the posts.