MIC crisis: Mum's the word for Palanivel

Palanivel, when met at the laying of the foundation stone for Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Ramakrishna here, today, declined to comment on the issue and asked reporters to instead focus on the ceremony.

"No, don't talk about all that because I've come here only for the school and temple. (On the) MIC issue, politics all...(I will comment on it) another day.

"I have discussed the MIC issue in Perak and Selangor. When I come back (to Penang), I will invite all of you, reporters," he said.

Yesterday, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the MIC crisis could be resolved if Palanivel acted on the advice of the Barisan Nasional top leaders to consistently follow the directive of the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

The MIC crisis came about after RoS declared the elections for the three vice-president posts and 23 seats in the Central Working Committee (CWC) held at the MIC General Assembly in Melaka last November, as null and void.

In a letter dated Dec 5, 2014, RoS ordered MIC to hold re-elections for all these posts within 90 days.

Palanivel had on Feb 14 this year, asked RoS to withdraw all letters issued pertaining to the party elections, claiming RoS' action was against the MIC constitution and Societies Act, and he also threatened to take legal action against RoS if it refused to withdraw the letters.

Meanwhile, at today's event, Palanivel, who is also Natural Resources and Environment Minister, said the Education Ministry had allocated RM4.7 million for the building of two new blocks for SJKT Ramakrishna.

He said the two blocks of buildings would have 24 classrooms, a science room, computer room and other facilities.