PUTRAJAYA, February 9 – The MIC has to hold fresh elections for all elected posts between April and July to avert deregistration, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.
He said the decision was made by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to ensure that the dispute over the election of the party’s office-bearers could be resolved once and for all.
The party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) for 2009-2013, to be known as the Interim CWC, would manage the elections, he told a news conference here.
“The elections for the party branches must be held in April, the presidential election in May and the elections for the divisions in June.
“The elections for the Wanita, Youth, Putera and Puteri wings have to be held between April and June, and those for deputy president, the (three) vice-presidents and the CWC, as well as the general assembly have to be held in July,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the failure of the MIC to hold the elections could result in the party’s deregistration under Section 13 of the Societies Act 1966.
MIC leaders, following a meeting with Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Feb 4, agreed to hold fresh elections as a solution to the crisis in the party.
The crisis had erupted over differences of opinion after the RoS nullified the elections for the three posts of vice-president and 23 CWC posts at the general assembly held in Melaka in November 2013 following complaints of irregularities.
In a letter dated Dec 5, 2014, the RoS ordered the MIC to hold fresh elections for these posts within 90 days. Ahmad Zahid said the Interim CWC was required to set up an elections committee to manage the fresh elections.
“Only the voter list and branches as of 2012 are eligible for the fresh elections. The 800 branches set up last year are invalid and ineligible. A
legalisation process must be carried out to ascertain that only the valid and eligible branches take part in the fresh elections,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also said that the MIC was required to submit a list of all the party divisions and branches within the time frame stipulated by the RoS. He said the notice of the fresh elections, dated Feb 6, had been sent to MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam.
He said Palanivel had the authority to make new appointments for posts such as secretary-general and treasurer-general. On this matter, RoS director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah said the MIC president could make new appointments if the secretary-general had resigned or
died.
“The president can make new appointments, but must get the approval of the 2009-2013 CWC,” he said.
– BERNAMA
