Keadilan Youth exco S Manikavasagam, who had voiced his intention to quit Keadilan along with other Indian Malaysian members, has finally decided to only relinquish three positions he holds in the party.

In his resignation letter, which was faxed to malaysiakini today, Manikavasagam said he would give up being Youth exco, Selangor Youth vice chief and public services and complaints (Youth) bureau chief.

However, he is retaining his Ampang Jaya committee member post.

Manikavasagam had wanted to quit over Youth deputy chief Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's speech during the wing's annual meet last month that allegedly attacked party supreme council member N Gobalakrishnan.

He was also unhappy with the party's treatment of its Indian Malaysian members and criticised the party for not having an Indian Malaysian vice president.

Saifuddin has denied the allegations and turned the tables on Manikavasagam by accusing him of neglecting his responsibility to woo the Indian community.

AGM disappointment

When contacted, Manikavasagam in turn claimed that reports submitted by the Youth wing bureaus were not included in the Youth Annual Report distributed at the AGM last month.

"Saifuddin has also not taken the initiative to help the ISA detainees who have sacrificed much for the party," he said.

In his resignation letter, Manikavasagam said he was upset with the way the recent annual general meeting in Sungai Petani was conducted.

"The AGM became a platform to censure certain individuals when it should be used as an opportunity to discuss positive ideas about the party," he wrote.

"I feel the AGM this time had been planned to place some individuals in a bad light," he added when contacted.

He also criticised Saifuddin for allegedly stopping Indian Malaysian delegates from speaking out at the AGM.

His other grouses included the reluctance of the party to appoint an Indian Malaysian vice president despite two vacancies for the post. The present VPs are Hulu Kelang state assembly representative Azmin Ali, Internal Security Act detainee Tian Chua and former Penang mufti Sheikh Azmi Ahmad.

Loyal still

Manikavasagam said he had spoken to party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and other party leaders before deciding to quit his posts.

He said he had been approached by several MIC leaders since he announced his intention to resign, but stressed that he would remain loyal to Keadilan.

He added that he did not want other Indian Malaysian members to quit the party as their contributions are valued.

However, he was upset that Saifuddin has not contacted him regarding his dilemma.

"I don't mind if he called me and thrashed it out with me, but as I see it he does not care about our contributions," said Manikavasagam.

Saifuddin was unavailable for comment.