MIC crisis: Palanivel suspends 15, including deputy and vice-president

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today suspended the membership of fifteen leaders for a period of twelve months with immediate effect.

The fifteen include party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr. S. Subramaniam and vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan.

"I had, on 15 June 2015, immediately issued a Memo to all CWC members and other leaders to cancel the said illegal meeting of the Interim CWC and to forward to me the cancellation notice," Palanivel said in a press statement today.

"Despite my said memo dated 15 June 2015, these individuals had not cancelled the scheduled meeting," he said.

"It is beyond doubt that the acts of these individuals were clearly detrimental to the interests of the Malaysian Indian Congress," he said.

Apart from Dr Subramaniam and Saravanan, others are Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany, N. Rawisandran, Datuk R. Ganesan, Datuk M. Davendran, Datuk KRA Naidu, Datuk V. M. Panjamothy, P. Manivasagam, S. Ananthan, M. Mathuraiveran, Datuk M. Asojan, P Shanmugan, K.R. Parthiban and MIC Wanita chief Mohana Muniandy.

"I have issued letters of suspension yesterday which will be received by them in due course," Palanivel said.

"By virtue of the suspension of their membership, pursuant to Article 13.2 of the MIC Constitution, they shall not exercise any of their rights as a member under Articles 13.1, 13.1.1, 13.1.2, 13.1.3 and 13.1.4 of the MIC Constitution," he added.

Yesterday, the High Court had dismissed two judicial review applications by Palanivel and other MIC leaders challenging the Registrar of Society’s (RoS) order for the party to hold fresh elections.

Judge Justice Asmabi Mohamad ruled that the court has no reason to interfere with the RoS decision and dismissed the applications with RM90,000 costs.