MIC crisis over, 90% branches back leadership, says Subramaniam

The MIC regards the party's internal crisis as over as 90 per cent of its 3,970 branches nationwide support the party leadership.

MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the party which was previously split into two groups, was now united under one roof, indicating a positive development for the Indian community.

"We realise that for the past one to two years, this internal crisis had been an obstacle for us to move forward.

"That crisis is over and what is important now is that we must be forgiving and accept them back in the spirit of strengthening unity in the party," he told reporters after a ceremony to hand over MIC membership forms here today.

A total of 700 former MIC members from 627 branches nationwide, including former party vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan were present to hand over their membership forms.

The MIC split into two groups following a crisis between Dr Subramaniam and former party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) issued a notice on Dec 5, 2014, ordering the party to conduct its election again, which was then won by Dr Subramaniam.

The crisis resulted in Palanivel automatically losing his party membership, and several of his supporters refused to rejoin the party under Dr Subramaniam.

Dr Subramaniam, who is also health minister, said MIC was also prepared to accept the rest of the MIC members from other groups to strengthen the party for the 14th General Election.

He said the party's main focus was to ensure Barisan Nasional won in the general election. -- BERNAMA