Newly minted Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) president RS Thanenthiran has been given until Jan 17 to answer four charges against him.

NONE Thanenthiran faces disciplinary action and possible termination for not following procedures according to the party constitution.

Thirteen rebel members out of the 27-strong party central committee attended an emergency meeting at the party headquarters in Shah Alam yesterday to sack the president.

But after a three-hour meet which started at 10am, they decided to give Thanenthiran seven days to furnish an explanation.

The four charges are:

1. Why has the president not submitted the party’s accounts for money received and expenditures incurred for the past three months to the central committee?

2. Why did the president bring in his relatives as office bearers into the party?

3. Why has he not carried out any programmes or activities for the benefit of the Indian community since the party was officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Oct 10 last year?

4. Why did the president lock up the party headquarters on Dec 19 to prevent central committee members from conducting a party meeting against the leadership?

OMS Thiagarajan to take over?

According to Perak MMSP deputy chief S Krishnan, 54, who attended yesterday's meeting, the president faced the risk of having his membership revoked if Thanenthiran does not attend the Jan 17 inquiry or fails to provide satisfactory answers.

Asked on the possibility of businessman OMS Thiagarajan taking over the helm, Krishnan replied: "No way!"

There are speculations that either Thiagarajan or former Hindraf leader and Internal Security Act detainee R Kenghadharan may be selected for the top post.

A party source said while the rebel committee members supported Thiagarajan, the grassroots however fear that his entry may open the gates to former MIC deputy S Subramaniam and his supporters.

The grassroots do not want another MIC shadow party to emerge but prefer the spirit of the Hindraf movement to live on with the appointment of a former Hindraf leader.

Najib had officiated the 'Barisan Nasional friendly' MMSP with the aim of giving the MIC-weary Indian community an alternative choice.

However, the plan has hit a snag with the current cris.

The rebel camp which include secretary-general R Kannan and deputy president A Vathemurthy want Thanenthiran to be replaced with a more ‘competent’ leader to win over the community.

They also want to break away from the perception that MMSP is a Hindu-dominated entity.