Palanivel's camp files application to strike out court injunction

Key loyalists of Datuk Seri G. Palanivel say the faction has submitted an application to the High Court to set aside an injunction preventing the embattled leader from being referred to as 'MIC president'.

Datuk S. Sothinathan, whom the faction recognises as the party secretary-general, said the application was submitted today through their lawyers Kamaruzaman, Arif, Amran & Chong.

"Our lawyers have already filed an action to strike it out. The person who has taken an ex parte injunction must be prepared to face the consequences of his act," he told reporters here.

On July 6, the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued an interim injunction to stop Palanivel from carrying out duties as the MIC president and holding any gathering in the party, following an application filed by Ampang Jaya MIC Branch chairman Datuk N. Muneandy.

On June 25, the rival faction led by Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam received a response from the Registrar of Societies that it took note of the Interim Central Working Committee notification that Palanivel was no longer a member of the party.

The RoS, referring to a letter from the secretary-general of the Interim Central Working Committee 2009 A. Sakhtivel, also took note that Dr Subramaniam would serve as acting party president.

Palanivel did not regard the RoS "taking note" of anything as any form of directive. In any case, he said, the RoS was not in a position to make a decision in the matter.

He and his supporters thus proceeded to hold nominations for party elections at the branch level yesterday.

Sothinathan claimed that 2,241 of the 3,400 MIC branches took part in the nominations which indicated their support for Palanivel.

Dr Subramaniam's faction will hold their nominations for branch elections from today to Sunday.