The bitter tussle to be the reigning president to lead the People's Progressive Party (PPP) has plunged into another dark chapter when M Kayveas and T Murugiah simultaneously today issued mandates as the rightful president of the party.

kayveas murugiah ppp At the PPP headquarters in Kampung Atap, Kayveas was declared the party's president as he has won the post uncontested.

Today is the deadline for nominations in the party's upcoming polls on June 7.

While all this was taking place, Murugiah, who was in Sentul, chaired his first 'supreme council meeting' where he was confirmed as the new PPP president.

The inaugural meet was attended by 35 members, who were elected last Sunday at a specially-arranged emergency meeting .

The declarations today came following the fallout between incumbent party president Kayveas and former supreme council member Murugiah, who was earlier sacked from PPP along with six others a week ago.

Kayveas: No one can hijack PPP

When contacted by Malaysiakini , Kayveas said the nominations for party posts had been filed today and elections will take place as planned on June 7.

Nine nominees will be vying for the three vice-president posts. Twenty-nine nominees are eyeing to fill 25 central working committee seats.

Questioned on the legitimacy of Murugiah's supreme council meeting this afternoon, he dismissed it as "rubbish" and argued that no one could hijack the party.

According to him, there are two discrepancies in Murugiah's 'grab for power' - an election cannot be held in an EGM according to article 8.4.4 in the PPP constitution, and one would have to be a party member for seven years before he is eligible to run for the party presidency.

"He (Murugiah) joined in 2006, after he resigned in 2002. It is not even seven years since he is back."

Kayveas said that he has made arrangements for the office to be opened till 12 midnight today and that all seven members who were previously expelled would be welcomed to return to the party's fold.

He added that three of the expelled members have already contacted him to express their remorse for their action.

"After he (Murugiah) is expelled, he should go create his own political party. He should not go around disturbing PPP."

Team Murugiah

Following his ‘victory', Murugiah, who is deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, claimed that he commands the support of the party with the backing of 50,000 new members.

murugiah pc roadshow 300509 letters "I have been getting lots of phone calls from new members as well as previous party members wanting to re-join the party.

"In Johor itself, there are 15,000 new members. Johor has always been difficult for me to rally support but 14 out of 19 branches have expressed support for me as their president," he said.

When asked to clarify which branches these members came from, Murugiah however said that the branches had yet to be created but this would be done "immediately, effective today."

Murugiah also announced that the RM3 'membership and entrance fees' of 100,000 members will be waived.

He also said that he would try to win over more youth voters to reinstall faith in Barisan National so BN could win big in the 13th general election.

Murugiah: I have grassroots support

Murugiah also revealed that he is embarking on a nationwide tour, beginning tomorrow in Perak.

The tour is aimed at explaining to the grassroots on the current situation in the party and his plans for PPP.

Asked to comment on the rival faction's nomination for Kayveas to be party president, Murugiah said: "He can claim that he is the president. They can go ahead with the nominations but we will still await ROS' (Registrar of Societies) decision."

Murugiah also took a stab at Kayveas by claiming that his team did not command many members.

"They (members) are given PPP T-shirts and (automatically) become members," he said.

When asked to justify his claim, he said: "We know their modus operandi. There have been Bangladeshis and Nepalese sitting in the hall in PPP attire."