Top two posts spared in MIC re-election
Nigel AwPublished: Dec 6, 2014 7:16 AM | Updated: Dec 6, 2014 8:54 AM
The MIC today confirmed that it will comply with the Registrar of Socieities' order to hold a re-election but said this will not affect the top two posts in the party.
The MIC today confirmed that it will comply with the Registrar of Societies' order to hold a re-election but said this will not affect the top two posts in the party.
This means that MIC president G Palanivel (below) and his deputy S Subramaniam will keep their positions.
Both positions were won uncontested in the 2013 election, which term will last until 2016.
Subramaniam, in making the announcement at the party headquarters, called the incident a "black day" for MIC.
"With a heavy heart, I have to announce that the ROS, based on complaints from delegates at the national, divisional and branch levels of MIC...
"After conducting investigations and interviews, has concluded there are sufficient irregularities to warrant re-election for certain posts in the party.
"The ROS has instructed the re-election for the central working committee and vice president positions," he told journalists at the MIC headquarters this afternoon.
He added that eight other divisions have also been instructed to hold a re-election, namely Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Kulim Bandar Baharu, Bayan Baru, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin.
There will also be limited polling for three other divisions – the division chief posts in Kota Raja and Tanjung Malim, and the position of deputy chief for Batu Kawan.
Two branches – Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan – will also hold re-elections, while the Taman Koperasi Polis branch will only need to re-elect its chief.
'Democratic right to complain'
When pressed for details on the exact nature of irregularities, Subramaniam merely said that the ROS found that the MIC polls did not follow the party's constitution as well the Societies Act.
He added that ROS' letter instructing the re-elections was delivered to the party headquarters yesterday and party secretary-general Prakash Rao had conveyed the message to Palanivel who is abroad attending a conference.
"The president advised the secretary-general to abide by the contents of the letter," he said.
Following this development, Subramaniam said the joint MIC wings annual general assembly tomorrow, as well as the main body's meeting next week, are postponed.
He also said that the party must hold the polls within 90 days and the matter will only be discussed when party president Palanivel returns from overseas this coming Thursday or Friday.
He added the ROS letter stated MIC needs to hold a re-election and not a fresh election, therefore the nominated candidates will remain the same as last year.
Asked if he blamed the complainants for putting MIC in a quandary, Subramaniam said it was their democratic right to file complaints.
"This is a democratic institution. If there are some who feel what was done is unfair, they have a right to make a complaint and I cannot deny them that right," he said.
Subramaniam said this is the first time MIC has been forced by ROS to hold a re-election since its inception in 1946 and stressed that the incident will not "destroy" the party.
"Be calm, strong and focused. Let us identify the weaknesses. Let us search through the cause of these problems and let us make whatever changes that we need to make.
"Sometimes they can be painful but through unity and strength, we can develop a strong, vibrant and resilient MIC to fulfil the aspiration and wishes of the Indian community and entrench ourselves as the senior component of the ruling coalition and to win the 14th General Election," he said.
This means that MIC president G Palanivel (below) and his deputy S Subramaniam will keep their positions.
Both positions were won uncontested in the 2013 election, which term will last until 2016.Subramaniam, in making the announcement at the party headquarters, called the incident a "black day" for MIC.
"With a heavy heart, I have to announce that the ROS, based on complaints from delegates at the national, divisional and branch levels of MIC...
"After conducting investigations and interviews, has concluded there are sufficient irregularities to warrant re-election for certain posts in the party.
"The ROS has instructed the re-election for the central working committee and vice president positions," he told journalists at the MIC headquarters this afternoon.
He added that eight other divisions have also been instructed to hold a re-election, namely Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Kulim Bandar Baharu, Bayan Baru, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin.
There will also be limited polling for three other divisions – the division chief posts in Kota Raja and Tanjung Malim, and the position of deputy chief for Batu Kawan.
Two branches – Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan – will also hold re-elections, while the Taman Koperasi Polis branch will only need to re-elect its chief.
'Democratic right to complain'
When pressed for details on the exact nature of irregularities, Subramaniam merely said that the ROS found that the MIC polls did not follow the party's constitution as well the Societies Act.
He added that ROS' letter instructing the re-elections was delivered to the party headquarters yesterday and party secretary-general Prakash Rao had conveyed the message to Palanivel who is abroad attending a conference.
"The president advised the secretary-general to abide by the contents of the letter," he said.
Following this development, Subramaniam said the joint MIC wings annual general assembly tomorrow, as well as the main body's meeting next week, are postponed.
He also said that the party must hold the polls within 90 days and the matter will only be discussed when party president Palanivel returns from overseas this coming Thursday or Friday.
He added the ROS letter stated MIC needs to hold a re-election and not a fresh election, therefore the nominated candidates will remain the same as last year.
Asked if he blamed the complainants for putting MIC in a quandary, Subramaniam said it was their democratic right to file complaints.
"This is a democratic institution. If there are some who feel what was done is unfair, they have a right to make a complaint and I cannot deny them that right," he said.
Subramaniam said this is the first time MIC has been forced by ROS to hold a re-election since its inception in 1946 and stressed that the incident will not "destroy" the party.
"Be calm, strong and focused. Let us identify the weaknesses. Let us search through the cause of these problems and let us make whatever changes that we need to make.
"Sometimes they can be painful but through unity and strength, we can develop a strong, vibrant and resilient MIC to fulfil the aspiration and wishes of the Indian community and entrench ourselves as the senior component of the ruling coalition and to win the 14th General Election," he said.
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