MIC has enhanced its security at its headquarters here, with new changes and a new system put into place with immediate effect.

The party’s newly appointed secretary general Datuk G. Kumar Aamaan, said only authorised persons will have access into the MIC headquarters.

He said those who have official business in the headquarters will have to obtain passes from the security counter, issued upon clearance by the personnel on duty.

He said vehicles entering the MIC headquarters will also be subjected to restrictions.

“Use of MIC headquarters premises for any meeting, function, gathering or any other use whatsoever requires prior approval from the secretary general’s office.

“MIC headquarters shall also not be used by any persons or individuals for any press conference intended to criticise the party’s leadership including the President, Deputy President, and the Vice Presidents,” he said in a media statement, Sunday.

He added that these measures are taken to put into place a proper management and use of the MIC headquarters by all parties.

He also promised further changes, to be implemented in stages.

In an immediate reaction, the party’s youth chief C. Sivaraajh said the move to stop some leaders from holding press conferences in the building is unfair, undemocratic, regressive and will lead to more protests from MIC members.

“The move is dictatorial and authoritarian and goes against the president’s wish to open the party to democratic process,” he said.

Meanwhile, former party strategic director Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said Kumar should stop issuing statements as the ‘secretary general’ of MIC as his appointment is invalid.

“Article 49 of the party constitution says the secretary general must be appointed from amongst the Central Working Committee (CWC) members. The CWC itself has been declared invalid, what more the legitimacy of Kumar as the so called secretary general.

“If he continues to issue statements as an office bearer of MIC, then, I will seek legal redress against him,” he said.