The majority of Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) central committee members want Klang-based businessman 'Ohms' P Thiagarajan to helm the crisis-rocked fledgling party.

hindraf thanenthiran supports anwar ibrahim pc 160908 02It appears imminent that the founding president RS Thanenthiran (right) would be shown the exit, and many CC members see Thiagarajan as the man capable of straightening and strengthening the party.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, CC member S Sanjeeviramah, said a majority of CC members have already made their representation to the businessman.

However, Thiagarajan, who is currently the MMSP advisor, has yet to announce his decision.

"The majority of CC members want Thiagarajan as president for at least one term or three years if he does not agree to serve longer.

"We need a strong leader to stabilise the party and layout a comprehensive action plan for the party's growth,” said Sanjeeviramah, once a close ally of the embattled president.

Sanjeeviramah is among the 17 of the 27 CC members plotting to oust Thanenthiran and elevate Thiagarajan as president during the CC meeting this Sunday at the party head office in Section 13 Shah Alam.

He hopes that his former close friend Thanenthiran would attend the meeting to "defend himself from all allegations of mismanagement and abuse of power."

He said the party secretary-general R Kannan has sent out meeting notices to all 27 CC members, including Thanenthiran who is now on a pilgrimage visit to India.

Thanenthiran is expected to return home this weekend.

'Our membership can grow without him'

Sanjeeviramah said Thanenthiran's presence would allow the democratic process to take place in replacing the president during the meeting

"At least CC members can hear both sides of story and decide on whether to retain Thanenthiran or otherwise," he added.

Nonetheless, he said the meeting would go ahead as scheduled with or without Thanenthiran.
 
He said Thanenthiran should know by now that 95 percent of the party's 12,000 members would be happy to see him step down.

"Many Indians disapprove of MMSP solely due to the presence of Thanenthiran. Without him at the helm, our membership strength can grow to even 300,000 by the year end," he claimed.

Early this month, Sanjeeviramah was among 14 rebel CC members who received show cause letters dated Dec 31, 2009 from Thanenthiran.

The 14 were those who supported a motion of no-confidence against Thanenthiran at an emergency CC meeting held outside the MMSP head office on Dec 19 last year.

All the recipients did not reply to the show cause letters within the seven-day deadline given by Thanenthiran.

"Why should we reply to all those baseless allegations? We will boot him out before he can kick us out," said Sanjeeviramah.

He also plans to file a defamation suit against Thanenthiran for allegedly uttering slanderous remarks against him late last year.