3,195 MIC branches submit nomination forms
A total of 3,195 branches saw nominations for MIC’s branch elections during the three-day nomination period beginning Friday till yesterday evening, said MIC acting president Dr S
Subramaniam.
He said that number represented 75 percent of the 3,970 MIC branches, and he was satisfied with the outcome.
“A total of 785 branches were not able to participate in the election process at the branch level for various reasons, including those which were illegally established in 2013, and those which have become defunct,” he told reporters at the Selangor-level nomination session in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He said the final tally of nominations will be announced today, as there were states which were still carrying out the nomination process until late yesterday evening.
He said the nationwide nomination process went smoothly, with all branches providing good cooperation, even though the elections were being held during a challenging political situation for the party.
“We are happy the members of MIC have shown a sense of maturity in participating in this election, in the feeling of togetherness, and for the future of the party, because it is a very difficult situation and the election is being done during a crisis, this is the biggest challenge.
“The nomination process as a whole went smoothly, and there were only two minor incidents which occurred in Penang and Kedah,” he said.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also the Health Minister, said the 2009 interim central working committee (CWC) would give the opportunity to any party wishing to object, beginning 9am today, until Thursday, 1pm.
“If there is any branch that wishes to make a complaint and it is accompanied by valid documents, they can make their objections, and it will be investigated by the dispute resolution committee which we have set up,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the Federal Territory, chief nomination coordinator S Veerasingam said 170 of the 250 branches had submitted their nominations yesterday, and only three branches were to see contests.
“All the nomination forms were submitted in full, and the candidates membership status were then investigated and recognised by the coordinating officer appointed by the 2009 CWC as valid,” said Veerasingam, who also received a nomination from MIC vice-president M Saravanan representing the Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz branch in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
‘Members on the ground showed maturity’
Meanwhile, Saravanan said the nomination process went smoothly, and all party members on the ground showed maturity by sending in their nominations.
“Only the branches that make nominations during these three days are valid, and any branch that did not make a nomination may still make an appeal to the CWC after this, and it will be considered,” he said.
The nominations for re-election at the branch level for MIC is July 10, 11 and 12, followed by the selection of branches from July 20 to 26, while the presidential election is expected to be completed by the end of August.
MIC plunged into a crisis when the Registrar of Societies (ROS) ordered the party to hold re-elections after finding irregularities in its last party polls.
The party then split into two factions, one led by the then-party president G Palanivel and the other by Dr Subramaniam.
ROS recognised the 2009 CWC as the legitimate committee to hold the new polls.
Palanivel lost his status as MIC president ipso facto (automatically) after bringing party matters to court without the endorsement of the CWC, which is required under the party’s constitution.
- Bernama
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