Kuala Lumpur – Sources close to the so-called Palanivel faction revealed that a closed door meeting chaired by Datuk S.Sothinathan took place in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (25 July 2016) which was attended by key leaders from the faction.
It is believed that the meeting discussed at length, the next course of action to be taken and agreed unanimously to give a mandate to Sothinathan to negotiate with the current leadership of MIC to work-out a formula for the faction’s branch leaders to return back to MIC.
Sources said several leaders emphasised at the closed-door meeting that there is no point in continuing their political fight through the courts anymore and instead a political solution need to be worked out for them to respectfully return to MIC’s fold.
Palanivel absent from the meeting
A file picture of Palanivel and Sothinathan in one of their earlier press-conferences…
Former MIC President Datuk Seri G.Palanivel did not attend the closed door meeting. It is also not known whether he was informed of the meeting or whether he has endorsed the decisions taken at the meeting.
Sources said Palanivel is currently in India.
On several occasions MIC President Datuk Seri S.Subramaniam had publicly declared that MIC’s doors are always open for those outside to come back. However, MIC sources said this is the first time the leaders from Palanivel’s faction have come together to openly discuss and decide whether to return back the party.
Sources pointed out that one of reasons for the change of mind among the leaders from Palanivel faction was the outcome of the Conspiracy case filed against RoS and MIC leaders. On 11th July 2016 the Kuala Lumpur High Court struck out the Conspiracy legal suit filed by K.Ramalingam and 7 others on grounds of preliminary objections raised by RoS and MIC.
Another reason for the Palanivel faction’s leaders to have a change of mind contemplating about returning to MIC is the impending 14th General election which is expected to take place within the next two years.
Several key leaders from Palanivel faction are said to be keen in contesting in GE 14, including Sothinathan who is eyeing for the Teluk Kemang Parliament constituency which he won in 2001 and 2004 under MIC-BN ticket. He lost to PKR in 2008 and was not given the opportunity to contest again in the same constituency in 2013 by then MIC President Palanivel.
