Palanivel’s men can join in polls

Subra says no one will be victimised

So, we want to make it clear to all that the election process run by the interim CWC will be the only o cial one About 3,500 branches will be joining the rst stage o re elections

datuk Seri dr S. Subramaniam

KUALA LUMPUR: The faction opposing embattled MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel says all eligible members will be allowed to vote in the party re-elections it is conducting.

Deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who has declared himself acting president, gave an assurance that no one would be victimised during the nomination and re-election processes.

“There is no need for us to take revenge by denying any member from the opposing side,” he said before hosting a luncheon for MIC branch leaders here at a hotel yesterday.

“The nominations between July 10 and July 12, and re-election between July 20 and July 26, will be the only official election,” he said. “I hope all members will be clear about this.”

Earlier, Dr Subramaniam chaired an interim CWC meeting on the re-election process at the party headquarters.

There was a surprise when K.P. Samy and Datuk G. Kumaar Aaman, who were appointed by Palanivel to the CWC in 2009, joined in.

Dr Subramaniam welcomed their attendance, and urged the remaining seven appointed members of that CWC to also “make your voices heard”.

“We are very confused with the other side’s way of doing things, because they are challenging the directive by the RoS (Registrar of Societies) and also calling for fresh elections, which is exactly what the RoS has directed us to do.

“So, we want to make it clear to all that the election process run by the interim CWC will be the only official one. About 3,500 branches will be joining the first stage of re-elections,” he said.

On security measures during branch polls, Dr Subramaniam said all branches taking part had been told to inform the police.

He said he was open to having a third party audit the entire re-election process to ensure transparency.

“We may not have a third party audit the branch elections as it will begin soon but we are open to it for the remaining processes,” he added.

For Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, branch level nominations will be held on July 12 (10am-1pm) at the party headquarters.