PETALING JAYA, May 15-Fresh from a defeat at the recently concluded 13th general election, MIC’s S Murugesan (photo) has resigned as the party’s secretary general with immediate effect.
In a statement the lawyer turned politician said he had sent his resignation letter to party chief G Palanivel this morning.
However, Murugesan said he will return to serve the party as a central working committee(CWC) member and branch chairman after a short break.
Murugessan lost to PAS’ Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud with the majority of 29,395 votes in the tussle for the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency in the just concluded polls.
This was Murugesan second defeat in a general election, with the first being in the hands of PKR’s R Sivarasa in the fight for the Subang parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election.
“I had, before the 13th General Election, informed Palanivel of my intention to resign as party secretary general in the event I lose the election,” he said.
Murugesan said he reiterated his stand to the party president last week and “allowed a few days for party to find a suitable successor.”
“The party needs to rejuvenate and renew itself.
I have given my best as the party secretary general to move the party forward and to be more relevant to the younger generation,” he added.
He said the time has come to allow other party leaders continue rebuilding the party under Palanivel’s leadership.
Murugesan also thanked Palanivel for giving him the opportunity to serve the party.
Murugesan took over the post from Dr S Subramaniam, now MIC deputy president, after the party elections in 2009.
He was however sacked from the party by the then MIC supremo S Samy Vellu for criticizing the party leadership over the sacking of MIC deputy Youth chief V Mugilan, central working committee members KP Samy and G Kumar Aamaan and Petaling Jaya Selatan division chairman V Subramaniam.
The expelled leaders, later formed Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) a movement which pressured Samy Vellu to vacate MIC presidential post.
Murugesan was allowed back into the party and given the secretary general’s position after Palanivel took over in 2010.
Meanwhile, a party source claimed that several party central working committee members are in the running for the post.
“Palanivel cannot appoint someone from the outside. The secretary general must be from the existing central working committee.
“If Palanivel wants to appoint an outsider then the person must be appointed as a central working committee member first. However, even this cannot be done as former president (S Samy Vellu) has filled up all the appointed central working committee positions with his supporters before he resigned in 2010.
“Palanivel needs to wait until the next term. The party elections must be held first before any appointment can be made,” said the source.
