MIC presidential hopeful M Muthupalaniappan today claimed that he has proof that party branches were formed overnight in Negri Sembilan during the MIC polls in 1994 on the orders of the top leadership.

Citing a statutory declaration signed by former Seremban division deputy chairperson S Sargunaselvam on Jan 15 this year, Muthupalaniappan said 25 branches were formed in 1994 although this transgresses the party constitution.

m muthuppalaniappan interview 171208 03 The document states that the branches were formed on the orders of MIC veteran leader and disciplinary committee chairperson G Vadiveloo to ensure that Muthupalaniappan (left) - who was then the Negri Sembilan MIC chairperson - would lose the election.

At that time Muthupalaniappan, who “was poised for victory”, was being opposed S Sellakrishnan for the post.

In the document, Sargunaselvam admitted that the branches were formed “solely for the purpose of creating more votes for S Samy Vellu's and Vadiveloo's henchman Sellakrishnan to win the Seremban division chairmanship and thereby defeat Muthupalaniappan”.

“During the election year of 1994, I (Sargunaselvam) formed 10 branches and Sellakrishnan formed 15 branches... I state that the purported members of these unlawful branches were bogus and/or phantom,” he said in the document.

mic malaysia indian congress Sargunaselvam added that the members of the new branches were enrolled without filling an application form.

“I do believe that Sellakrishnan continues to keep the books... of these unlawfully formed branches to manipulate and keep the respective chairmen under duress to ensure that they cast their vote for him at every subsequent division elections.

“When branch leaders... did not support him or their support became unreliable later, Sellakrishnan with the help of the headquarters closed the branches and later on (reopened them) with new recruitment of henchmen to hold vital posts.”

Sargunaselvam further said that, although he was also involved in the conspiracy, he “regretted the mistakes” but was suspended by the party leadership for a year.

“When my suspension expired, I applied for re-admission to the party but without providing any reason my request was denied... I have recanted and now support Muthupalaniappan,” he said.

“I am very disillusioned and frustrated by the party leadership... and I hope that something will be done to restore the party.”

Disciplinary inquiry tomorrow

At a press conference today, Muthupalaniappan revealed the existence of the sworn statement after saying that he has been called before a disciplinary inquiry tomorrow.

The party has instituted action against him for his views that were published in Tamil daily Makkal Osai as well as in Malaysiakini .

He had earlier been issued a show-cause letter for” making baseless allegations against the party leadership and acting in a manner detrimental to interest of MIC”.

m muthuppalaniappan interview 171208 04 “I would like to make it very clear that I am not crazy for power and I am not contesting for my personal gain,” said the former vice-president.

“My statements were never meant to be detrimental to the community, MIC or Barisan Nasional... (but) if they exclude me, my popularity will only go up 100 times higher.

"They can remove me from MIC but they cannot stop me from serving the Indian community.”

Muthupalaniappan also challenged Samy Vellu to contest fairly to establish “who better represents the Indian community” in the upcoming party elections.