Opposing factions hurl insults, bottles

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC’s annual general assembly yesterday saw the party’s two factions involved in a war of words, with water bottles and posters being flung at each other at the entrance of the Putra World Trade Centre.

Some 1,000 supporters of ousted party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had gathered outside the venue since 8am, calling for the removal of party president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Hundreds of policemen from the Light Strike Force unit had to be deployed to separate the supporters and prevent untoward incidents.

Both sides were seen shouting obscenities and holding provocative posters in support of their respective factions.

According to former Central Working Committee member A.K. Ramalingam, who is a Palanivel supporter, his group wanted Subramaniam to step down.

“We want to let the prime minister know we are not in support of Dr Subramaniam.”

He added that Subramaniam had misled the party and the Registrar of Societies over the past two years.

“We are also questioning how RM33 million of the party’s money went missing. The money had been given to the party in 2013,” he said, without elaborating.

Ramalingam said the “Gerakan AntiSubramaniam” group will organise several gatherings next month at nine parliamentary constituencies to explain the movement to the people.