"I am okay if there is a contest for the MIC president's post or not...if there is, I accept...it does not matter," said MIC president G Palanivel.

That was the brief response from Palanivel when asked to comment on reports that his Deputy Dr S Subramaniam would be challenging him for the post of president in the MIC election in September.

Palanivel however, refused to elaborate further.

The Natural Resources and Environment minister was speaking to reporters after recording his 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri' wishes on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) at his office in Putrajaya today.

Reports are also rife that incumbent MIC vice-president M Saravanan, the deputy minister of Youth and Sports, would also be contesting the post of deputy president.

Palanivel said during the MIC central working committee (CWC) meeting in June, the election date for the MIC top post was set as Sept 22, while the nomination date was Sept 1.

"The election for deputy president, three vice presidents and CWC members will be held in November or December," he said adding that when the last time the party election was held in 2009, no one contested against former MIC president S Samy Vellu.

- Bernama