MIC quarters have dismissed an SMS circulating among party members promising cash for those who come to welcome MIC president G Palanivel from his Peru trip at the KL International Airport 1 (KLIA1) today.

The SMS that emerged yesterday reads: ‘Let's join and show our support to our beloved president G Palanivel tomorrow at KLIA1 at 2:30pm.

'Please bring 10 people from your division, petrol allowances RM50 per head will be given. Please contact me, thanks - (L) Sivasubramaniam, MIC information chief.’

However, Sivasubramaniam ( right ) when contacted dismissed the message as fake.

He told Malaysiakini a police report has been lodged at Kota Kemuning police station on the matter.

“I am 100 percent sure that no such message was sent by me. There is definitely no money involved.”

Pointing fingers fly

Questioned further, Sivasubramaniam pointed his finger at Puchong MIC Youth leader A Subash Chandrabose.

“I suspect that Subash is behind this message being sent out. Even I read it on a private WhatsApp group that we have,” he said.

However, Subash denied the allegation and said that this was a ploy to tarnish his image in the party.

“I have never sent out a message like this. The people who are doing this just want to give me a bad name in the party,” he said.

Subash added that those behind the message were doing so to garner support for Palanivel, who is under fire for troubles within MIC.

“The message is being sent out to get cheap publicity for the president (Palanivel) who is returning from a meeting.

“They want to show to the public that people are still supporting him and want him to continue to be president, when in reality they are not.”

Last Sunday, Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia told Palanivel to buck up or step down when the party plunged into a crisis after the Registrar of Societies (ROS) ordered MIC to hold a re-election.

The ROS ordered MIC to hold fresh elections for its 23-member central working committee (CWC) and the three posts of vice-president.

Palanivel, who is minister of natural resources and environment, has also come under severe criticism for his handling of the fatal Cameron Highlands disaster last month, including from the Pahang sultan.

He is to return today from a working trip at an environmental climate change meeting in Peru.