KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 – Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today confirmed that he will step down as MIC president in 2016.
Palanivel, who is the natural resources and environment minister, said he would step down in the first quarter of 2016 at the end of his term before the deputy president takes over.
However, he said, this was not a condition agreed or compromised.
“No compromise. I only asked for one more term. I already announced it many times,” he told reporters.
Earlier, Palanivel had a closed-door meeting with the party’s divisional chiefs at the MIC headquarters, here.
Also present were former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and vice-presidents Datuk M. Saravanan and Datuk S.K. Devamany.
Palanivel took over as party president when Samy Vellu stepped down in 2010 after holding the post for 31 years.
Palanivel also said he doubted that there would be a contest for the top two posts in the coming party elections.
“The party election – the presidential level and the deputy presidential level, I doubt there will be a contest,” he said.
Asked whether this would be the best decision for the party, Palanivel said: “It was a good decision because the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) had discussed with us.”
However, he said, he could not reveal when the discussion took place as it was a very private discussion.
Yesterday, Malay Mail online reported that Najib had met Palanivel, Subramaniam, Saravanan and Devamany at his residence in Putrajaya on Sunday.
Najib is said to have advised them to concentrate on strengthening the party and avoid a contest which could result in ‘open warfare’ in the party.
“But at the vice-presidential level and CWC (central working committee) level, there may be contests,” Palanivel said.
The MIC presidential election will take place on Sept 22 in the event there is a contest for the post at nomination on Sept 1.
The MIC president will be elected by the party’s 4,200 branch chairmen nationwide. The deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 CWC members will be elected by 1,500 party delegates.
– BERNAMA
