MIC deputy president G Palanivel said he was aware that some party grassroot members were not in favour of MIC's move to accept senator T Murugiah.

"It is common for any party member to react in favour or against this kind of move," the deputy plantation industries and commodities minister told reporters after visiting Coalfield Estate in Kuala Lumpur today.

NONE Palanivel, however, declined to comment further when asked about the party's central working committee's (CWC) decision to accept the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department as a member.

Murugiah, who was sacked by the People's Progresive Party (PPP) after a power tussle with its president Datuk M. Kayveas, had applied to join MIC.

On his visit to the plantation today, Palanivel said he would bring up the problems faced by the workers to Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) and try to get the necessary facilities.

He said the 54 families who had been staying there for more than 100 years wanted to remain in the estate but with new and better housing.

More than 80 per cent of 147 residents of the estate had previously agreed to move to their new homes offered at RM35,000 each compared to the actual price of RM42,000.

Those who refused to move claimed that their employer ordered them to leave without compensation and that the houses allocated to them were too small and the location inconvenient.

- Bernama