Kuala Lumpur – Yesterday, both the feuding factions of MIC came face to face for the first time in recent months, in the presence of Barisan Nasional Secretary General, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan, with a view of solving the current impasse on the merger proposals.
MIC President Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam has called for unity in the party by inviting the rival faction branches to join the party again. To facilitate their return, he has set December 19 as the nominations date for the branches outside MIC.
However, Datuk S.Sothinathan, representing former President Datuk Seri G.Palanivel’s faction, announced that the 1,800 odd branches will not participate in the nominations process scheduled on 19 December.
In refuting Sothinathan’s claims that there are 1,800 branches outside MIC, Datuk T.Mohan said there are only about 800 branches outside MIC and challenged Sothinathan to show proof of existence of 1,800 branches. Mohan is also one of the Vice Presidents of MIC.
Meanwhile, it is believed that several branches have contacted MIC Headquarters directly indicating their willingness to return to the party on their own accord as they don’t want to be dragged into the current political tussle any more.
The offer to the branches by party President Dr Subra is seen as the last opportunity for them to return to the MIC fold, as they will not be able to join back the party after 31st December 2015.
The MIC Constitution stipulates that during an election year, new branches cannot be formed and defunct branches cannot be revived. As per the MIC Constitution 2016 is an election year.
Legally valid branches which had completed their AGMs and re-elections by 31st December 2015 will be allowed to pay their respective subscription quotas for the year 2016 by 31st of January 2016.
MIC leaders meet in the presence of Tengku Adnan
MIC sources said that the meeting yesterday in the presence of Barisan Nasional Secretary General Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan did not arrive at any amicable solution.
MIC was represented by its President Dr Subra, Deputy President S.K.Devamany and Vice President S.A.Vigneswaran.
Palanivel faction was represented by S.Sothinathan, (Tan Sri) S.Balakrishnan and former Information chief L.Sivasubramaniam.
MIC sources also confirmed that another meeting is scheduled to take place between Sothinathan and Vigneswaran tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and Palanivel’s faction is expected to unveil their next course of action at a press conference tomorrow afternoon.
-R.Mutharasan
