Time bomb in Makkal Sakti?

A political tsunami is about to hit the newly-minted Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) as about 50 percent of the estimated 60,000 party members are expected to leave if there is no change in the leadership.

According to party deputy president A Vathemurthy the figure of estimated resignations from the party could be much higher. Most of the members are said to be very unhappy with the party president RS Thanenthiran and want a change in leadership.

The party's youth wing in many states were enraged when grassroots leader and party national youth chief N Ramu, 38, was among the 14 rebel party central committee members who were given show-cause letters as to why they should not be dismissed.

Thanenthiran had issued the show-cause letters dated Dec 31 to the 14 CC rebels for working against the interest of the party.

Besides Ramu, among other leaders given the letters include Vathemurthy (right) and party secretary -general R Kannan.

When contacted Ramu claimed that he was responsible for the recruitment of half of the total membership of the Indian-based party which is BN-friendly. Premier Najib Abdul Razak had officiated the birth of MMSP on Oct 10 last year.

State and division party youth leaders from Johor, Seremban and Perak have kept calling Malaysiakini voicing their anger at Thanenthiran's unilateral decision in wanting to sack Ramu who has strong grassroots support.

Their main grouses are that Thanenthiran after working hard to establish the party, has now taken a backseat and did not announce the party's many programmes for the Indian community.

He was also accused of not holding any meetings to update the members on the activities of the stagnant party.

According to youth and division leaders from the three states it was Ramu who went around the country to update and give information on party matters and also initiate programmes for the welfare of the Indian community.

'President went against constitution'

Kannan revealed that he had met with ROS officials who agreed that the president had gone against the party's constitution.

Meanwhile Vathemurthy claimed that he has the support of 15 out of the 27 CC members to oust the president on Saturday.

If the coup succeeds, than Vathemurthy and other CC members will meet and brief Najib on the future status of the party. The date of the meet is to be fixed later.

According to Kannan it is not necessary for the president to call for the party meeting as a minimum of four party CC members can call the shots.

Another mystery is the whereabouts of Thanenthiran (right).

Some CC members say that he is away in India but Vathemurthy is not convinced as he believes that the president is still in the country.