MIC president G Palanivel said yesterday the party would appeal to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over the order to hold fresh elections for the 23-member central working committee (CWC) and three posts of vice-president.

Palanivel, who returned yesterday from an official visit to Peru, said the appeal would be made after he had held a meeting with top MIC officials, the elections committee and lawyers within 10 days.

Speaking to reporters at the KL International Airport upon his return, Palanivel, who is the natural resources and environment minister, said the meeting would discuss “some uncertainties” in the ROS letter that was handed to party secretary-general A Prakash Rao last Friday.

However, he did not elaborate on the “uncertainties” that would be raised at the meeting.

“We will discuss this matter first in the meeting... and make a decision. I am not certain about what ROS is doing. We (MIC) counted the ballot papers during the election in Malacca, and the counting process was good and it was done in Malacca.

“The ballot boxes are all in our room (MIC office), and definitely ROS won’t interfere to count ballot papers. So, let us have the meeting first, and then we will know the outcome before we can appeal,” he said in a cheerful mood.  

Palanivel had been on a 12-day working visit to Peru to attend the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“There would not be any investigation on the claims of irregularities and power abuse during the election in Malacca. This is because we did the counting of ballots twice and the candidates were happy and accepted the results,” he said when asked if MIC would investigate the claims.

Several supporters of Palanivel from around the country, holding up banners, had waited for the return of the MIC president outside the VIP Lounge at Level 5.

After the press conference, he shook hands with and spoke to his supporters before leaving the airport.

Last Friday, the ROS ordered the MIC to hold fresh elections for the party’s 23 CWC members and the three posts of vice-president within 90 days, following alleged irregularities and breach of the party’s constitution and Societies Act.  

It also ordered the party to hold fresh elections within 60 days for eight divisions, namely Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Bandar Baru Kulim, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin.  

The ROS had also ordered the party to hold re-elections for Batu Kawan (deputy chairperson’s post), Kota Raja (division chairperson’s post), Tanjung Malim (division chairperson’s post) and Taman Koperasi Polis (branch chairperson’s post) within 30 days.

Two branches - Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan - would have to hold re-elections within 30 days.

Advised not to hold its AGM

The ROS had advised the party not to hold its annual general meeting until the matter had been resolved.

The party was scheduled to hold its general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, with the women’s, youth, Putera and Puteri wings last Sunday and the general assembly on Dec 13 and 14.

The MIC elections held last year saw a contest among eight senior leaders for the three posts of vice-president while 88 candidates, among them two women, vied for the 23 CWC posts.

The election for vice-presidents was won by S Sothinathan, M Saravanan and S Balakrishnan.

- Bernama