KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic) today hinted he would be contesting the president’s post in the party election on Sept 22.
Reluctant to give a firm answer to current speculation, he said, however that none had said ‘no’ to him, wherever he went.
“Wherever I went, no one said ‘no’,” he said when met by reporters after launching a book on Indian herbal medicine written in Tamil by local ‘siddha’ (traditional Indian medicine system) physician Dr M. S. Chelliah.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also health minister, said he would announce his final decision on the matter soon.
In a meeting in June, the MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) set Sept 1, as nomination day for candidates while election for deputy president and three vice-president posts, as well as 23 CWC members will be held in November or
December.
The last MIC party election in 2009, saw Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu winning the president’s post uncontested.
Palanivel, who took over the party leadership from Samy Vellu in December 2010, had said he would hold the top post for another term if elected, to head the party at the next election.
In another development, Dr Subramaniam said the ministry would introduce variations of traditional medical systems at government hospitals nationwide as a move towards a more holistic treatment.
“This is to enable the people to benefit, not only from modern but also traditional treatment,” he said, adding that currently, the government had introduced acupunture and ayurvedic treatments at selected government hospitals.
— BERNAMA
