The decision by the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) central committee (CC) last week to sack its president RS Thanenthiran was done legally in accordance with the party constitution.

Hence the pro-Thanenthiran faction should accept the decision and work towards consolidating the party, said a CC member.

S Sanjeeviramah said it was inappropriate to continue to issue press statements in favour of the expelled former president.

NONE He said that Section 7.2 of the party constitution empowered the CC to suspend or revoke memberships of those who act against party interests.

"Thus, the validity and legality of the CC to sack Thanenthiran on Jan 17 should not be questioned. It was done in accordance with the party constitution.

"It was also to fulfill the demands and aspirations of at least 95 per cent of the 12,000 party members," said Sanjeeviramah ( right ), in response to press statements by the pro-Thanenthiran faction.

Yesterday, a Thanenthiran loyalist and CC member Dr PC Saravanan rubbished the existence of an 'inquiry committee' in the party, which 'terminated' the membership of Thanenthiran.

Saravanan questioned whether the 27-member CC had powers to take a decision without its president chairing the CC meeting.

"MMSP would be the first political party whose central committee members are more powerful than the president," said Saravanan.

Sanjeeviramah, however, refuted Saravanan's allegations and shifted the blame on Thanenthiran.

He said Thanenthiran chose to stay away from Sunday's meeting despite being issued a notice by party secretary-general R Kannan.

Moreover, he added Section 10.1 of the party constitution stipulated that a CC meeting can be held following a request by four CC members.

"We had 12 CC members requesting for Sunday's meeting," said Sanjeeviramah.

Fourteen CC members led by deputy president A Vathemoorthy voted for the 'termination' of hindraf kamunting prayer 161207 thanenthiran membership.

Of the remaining 13 CC members, including the 46-year-old Thanenthiran ( left ), six were the president's men and another six were fencesitters, said Sanjeeviramah.

Besides Saravanan, he said other loyalists were vice-president and Thanenthiran's brother Ramesh Raman Kutty, deputy secretary-general N Suthagaran, treasurer OG Gobalakrishnan and, members M 'Raub' Ganesan and Thanenthiran's cousin R Shailentiran.

Sanjeeviramah said the anti-Thanenthiran faction was now in full control of party affairs and would soon hold a meeting to appoint an interim president to spearhead the party.

Sanjeeviramah's faction is hoping to convince Klang-based businessman 'Ohms' P Thiagarajan, a close friend of former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, to helm MMSP.

Sanjeeviramah, once a close ally of Thanenthiran, said the CC fencesitters have adopted a 'wait and see' approach regarding Thanenthiran's sacking.

"They plan to meet Thanenthiran when he returns from India this week before deciding their next course of action.

"We are confident that they would eventually throw their support behind us," he told Malaysiakini.