The issue concerning the possibility of MIC pulling out its cabinet representatives will be discussed at the party central working committee (CWC) meeting on Thursday, said MIC president S Samy Vellu today.

samy vellu exclusive on tamil schools 080708 06 He also denied a report which appeared on news portal Malaysian Insider that MIC had sought a senatorship for him to be appointed to the cabinet, saying that it was "not my style".

"We will listen to the views of all the leaders before a decision is made. I will also seek an appointment with the prime minister," he said in a statement.

Samy Vellu was commenting on news reports quoting an unnamed source that MIC was studying a proposal to withdraw its one minister and two deputy ministers from the cabinet as a protest over the lack of importance accorded to the Indian community.

The report also said that MIC had requested for a senior portfolio namely the Works Ministry in the cabinet but it was rejected.

To this, Samy Vellu said he was not upset as it is the decision of the prime minister.

"I think in future the prime minister would consider allocating a senior ministerial portfolio to MIC," he said.

PM's prerogative to decide

Elaborating on the alleged senatorship and cabinet post for him, Samy Vellu said: "The appointment of ministers is the prerogative of the prime minister."

"It is utter nonsense and very mischievous," he said, referring to the Malaysian Insider report which claimed that the party wanted to pull out its representatives in the cabinet because he (Samy Vellu) was not appointed a minister.

"The writer is a liar of the first order who is used to writing imaginary nonsense in order to belittle people who refused to entertain him," Samy Vellu was quoted as saying by Bernama .

He added that he would consult his lawyers to institute legal action against the writer and the news portal.

Samy Vellu explained what had transpired between him and Najib Abdul Razak two days before the prime minister announced his cabinet line-up.

"I only submitted the names of MIC secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam for the minister's post and SK Devamany and M Saravanan for the deputy ministers’ posts.

"I did not mention about the senator. It is not my style to tell the prime minister as to what we want because it is the prerogative of the prime minister to decide what he wants for the cabinet," he said.

"I will not tolerate any more nonsense from the journalist. I have directed my lawyers to take action against him for the pack of lies," he said.

On Saturday, Malaysiakini was the first to break the news on the possibility of MIC pulling out its ministers from the cabinet.

A party insider said this was due to several unresolved issues, chief among them is the "treatment accorded by the new administration to the Indian community".

According to the source, the party would however continue to remain in the ruling BN coalition.