MIC deputy president hopeful S Subramaniam today slammed the party's central working committee (CWC) for referring him to the (party's) disciplinary committee, describing it as a "dirty campaign" deployed against him.

"This appears to be a planned tactic to frighten delegates and intimidate them (so they would not vote for me)," said the former deputy president at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

NONEWith regards to the announcement which was made by party president S Samy Vellu yesterday, Subramaniam (right) believes this was done as the president "is campaigning on behalf of one particular candidate G Palanivel".

"And he (Samy Vellu) is carrying out dirty campaigning against me everyday. So when he says this, what else do you expect? The disciplinary committee can make a statement that they will issue a letter to me.

"But he is an interested party and will be very happy, if action is taken against me. Even if action is not taken against me, news such as this, is good enough to frighten the delegates," said Subramaniam.

The CWC had yesterday decided to refer Subramaniam to the party's disciplinary committee further to his statement, in an English daily, about the party's election held in 1977.

MIC president S Samy Vellu said Subramaniam's statement along with statements made by former MIC strongman V Govindaraj, were aimed at "destroying the credibility of MIC's elections".

Govindraj, a former MIC vice-president, was quoted in a newspaper report two days ago as saying that he rigged the party's 1977 polls in favour of Samy Vellu who contested against Subramaniam for the deputy president post that year, where Subramaniam lost by 26 votes.

In the newspaper report, Subramaniam was reported as saying that Govindraj had confessed to him and another former vice-president (the late) K Pathmanaban about stealing votes and he (Subramaniam) chose not to wallow in self-pity.

Why announce it now?

Subramaniam also questioned the timing of the announcement and thinks that Samy Vellu is out to get him by announcing about the CWC decision before the party elections, which will take place on Sept 12.

"Look at the timing when they said they want to investigate me after the election, but let it be so. But why should they announce it now? Why not after the election?

"Otherwise you send the letter to me (without announcing it), so that I can face the matter now and tell the people what the investigation is about," he said, adding that he has yet to receive any letter from the disciplinary committee.

On the same note, he also said he too, is puzzled as to what kind of investigation or action will be taken against him and this has made it hard for him to explain to the delegates just before the party elections.

"And who is going to explain? Is it the president, disciplinary committee or CWC? Why is it all only going to be done after the elections?" Subramaniam asked.

However, he said he has no problems facing any actions taken against him.

"I will still carry on my fights but I don't want the delegates to be intimidated and have doubts as to what will happen after the investigation," he said.

Will lodge a complaint to election committee

With all the ‘attacks' that he has been getting from the party president, Subramaniam said he would consult his lawyers as to whether he should lodge a complaint to the election committee or not.

Asked whether such a "dirty campaign" launched by the president would jeopardise his future in MIC, he replied: "No, but there is a possibility (of it) and I want to explain to the delegates that they should not be carriNONEed away with such an announcement.

"No description of the action or whatsoever that will be taken against me have been conveyed. I just want them (disciplinary committee) to allow me to clarify and I will be prepared to face anything," he said.

He also hoped that the clarification and explanation will be carried out by the disciplinary committee and not the president because "he is campaigning (against me)".

"It is like he (Samy Vellu) (left) is using his power to confuse the delegates," he said.