Former youth leader promises action at MIC meeting

MIC loyalists and members -- who have been denying for decades that there are indeed, internal conflicts brewing in the party - seem to be at a loss for words when a group of disgruntled party members blatantly posed their disgruntled over the 'irregularities' and 'power abuse' in its 2013 election held in Malacca.

While MIC tries its best to exercise ‘damage control’ and contain the matter within the party, disgruntled members boldly went a step ahead and brought their dissatisfaction to the attention of the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

The year-long move to get RoS to act upon the alleged irregularities -- which include holding peaceful protests and memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak -- the effort seems successful. Or almost.

In the latest development, RoS has ordered MIC to hold fresh elections for the party's 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) members and post of three vice-presidents within 90 days, following alleged irregularities and breach of the party's constitution and Societies Act.

This happened while party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel was away on a 12-day working visit to Peru to attend the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The split is now more obvious with the disgruntled members claiming early victory with their successful pressure on RoS, and the party itself under has come under fire after RoS’ decision.

Media personnel could sniff the tension in the air as both groups seem to be pulling the media to take their sides.

A perfect testimony would be how the MIC created a WhatsAapp group called, ‘Official MIC HQ Media’ on Dec 4 and how a several hours later, the disgruntled group -- led by former MIC youth chief, Datuk T.Mohan followed suit by creating another Whatsapp group called ‘My Media Friends’.

Just last week, when the MIC announced its dates for the now-postponed Annual General Meeting, one member was reportedly felt over-emotional when questioned about the mounting pressure placed by disgruntled members on the RoS.

“The truth is on our side. No one can fight us. We will win,” he said.

Prior to this, former MIC President Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu was reported to have said that the issue would have been contained within the party if leaders had acted on the complaints.

“If something is wrong, the leadership should have taken the first step. Call them (the complainants) and tell them what you think. If so, the matter would have been within the party. Now, it's no longer within the party. It shouldn't happen.

“When somebody complains, we have to look at it immediately,” he said, when contacted by Astro AWANI.

Despite the brouhaha, Palanivel returned from his overseas trip to the warm welcome of his adoring party members, coolly announcing that MIC would appeal to RoS over the order to hold fresh elections.

Today the MIC will hold an emergency CWC meeting to decide if the party should hold fresh elections.

Many however are questioning the rights of the CWC members to convene for the meeting as the party’s highest decision-making body had now been declared invalid by RoS.

All eyes are on Mohan, who along with several party members vowing to oppose to the meeting. He has promised to gather at least 3,000 party members to join a peaceful protest to at the MIC headquarters in Brickfields, here at approximately 1pm, Thursday.

“Dear friends, whether the CWC meeting is cancelled or not, our protest will continue. It is to fight for our rights. Please join us at the MIC HQ at 1pm. Please bring our supporters together to voice out.”

Mohan sent the message to his WhatsApp group at approximately 5.30pm on Tuesday urging those against the meeting to come forward.

Whatever the decision will be, party observers are hoping for an amicable solution to the problem.