MIC will obey RoS, to hold fresh polls, says Palanivel

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (centre) seen at a rally held yesterday at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, June 21, 2015.

MIC will follow the Registrar of Societies (RoS) directive to hold fresh elections, said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

According to The Star Online, his comments came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak asked him to abide by the decision of the courts and the RoS.

"When I talked to him on Friday, he said to go for fresh elections…  I will go for fresh elections," Palanivel was quoted as saying by the English-language news portal.

But it said Palanivel declined comment when asked about Najib wanting him to explain his remarks at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) about Najib interfering in the party's affairs.

Posting on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts today, Najib in a brief update told Palanivel to stop blaming others for the troubles in Barisan Nasional's largest Indian party.

"I'll summon @GPalanivel to explain his reported comments at PWTC. He shd stop blaming others & must abide by the decision of the courts &RoS," Najib wrote on his Twitter account.

At a rally yesterday, Palanivel said Najib sided with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and pressed MIC to reject the party elections held in 2013.

"This is the greatest challenge MIC has faced in its 70 years of history. The issue is simple and clear.

“This is a battle between right and wrong. Between justice and unlawfulness. Between order and chaos. Between good and evil,” he said.

The MIC saga erupted following differences in opinion between Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam after RoS issued a notice last December 5 directing the party to hold fresh polls for the three vice-president and 23 central working committee posts.

RoS nullified the elections held in November 2013 following complaints of irregularities and ordered fresh polls to be held.

Palanivel took his case to the High Court but last Monday his two judicial review applications to quash the RoS directive to hold new elections were dismissed.

The court upheld the registrar’s decision for the party to hold re-elections at all levels (branches and divisions), including the president’s post.

The crisis also saw both Palanivel and his deputy Datuk S. Subramaniam claiming to be the party chief.