George Town, June 21 – With the announcement of two new MIC Senators, Penang MIC leaders are fuming over the loss of their Senate position, which they were expecting for the last two years.
Former Penang MIC State Chairman Dato Subbiah was appointed soon after Palanivel took over as President of MIC. However, within few months he passed away in April 2012, as a result of which the Senate became vacant and was not filled up by Palanivel for the last 2 years.
During this period, Penang MIC leaders were hoping that the Senate position will be given to one of the Penang MIC leaders.
Two candidates were often mentioned. One was State Chairman Karuppannan, who stood as a candidate for the Bagan Dalam State seat in GE 13 and lost. He also stood for the MIC Central Working Committee position in last year’s party elections but lost.
Dato Henry Benedict Asirvatham (pic) who is currently the State Treasurer and Chairman of MIC Bagan Division, was the other candidate from Penang who was often speculated to be the Senator to replace Subbiah.
Henry has also openly made press statements that Palanivel promised him the Senate position left vacant by the demise of Subbiah, for giving up his intention to contest as a candidate for Bagan Dalam state seat.
The Bagan Dalam state seat is located within the Bagan Parliament division of which Henry is the chairman. In one of his press statements Henry once claimed that Palanivel had promised him to appoint him as a Senator for supporting Karuppannan to contest in the Bagan Dalam state seat in GE 13.
Karuppannan accordingly contested in that seat but lost.
Now, after waiting in vain for over two years, Penang MIC leaders are fuming that the President has neglected the state by handing over Subbiah’s Senate to some one outside.
Why a Senate for BN ruled Pahang instead of opposition ruled Penang?
One MIC division leader from Penang, declining to publicise his name, commented that Penang MIC and the Indian community desperately need such an appointment since the state is controlled by the opposition. There is an urgent need to have a credible leader from Penang MIC with a Senate position so that he would be able to work within the Indian grass roots to increase Indian voters’ support for MIC and BN.
In comparison, the division leader pointed out that Pahang is a ‘Strong BN state’ with the Prime Minister himself at the helm. “So what is the need or urgency to appoint someone from Pahang as a Senator at this stage? There is no political benefit. But appointing someone from Penang would have strengthened Penang MIC and would have given us an opportunity to further improve our political support in the state. Furthermore, the current Pahang state chairman Gunasekaran contested for a state seat only last year and lost. So what is the hurry to bring him back again?” questioned the Penang MIC leader.
Penang MIC sources said several MIC division leaders have expressed unhappiness over the ‘loss’ of their Senate. According to MIC sources there are three more Senate positions that will become vacant this year as the respective Senators complete their term of office.
Will Penang MIC get one of those? That is the question that is posed now by Penang MIC leaders.
“The MCA gave a walk-over to DAP in Bukit Jelutong by-election. It looks like the MIC has now given a walk-over as far as the Penang Indian community is concerned. With no state positions for MIC leaders in this opposition ruled state, a Senate position would have been ideal for any leader to strengthen the party and the Indian vote bank. But now we have lost what was due to us and what was once held by us” lamented the MIC division leader from Penang.
