updated version Hours after calls were made for Barisan Nasional component parties to exercise mutual understanding and cooperation, 'confusion and raised tempers' instead reigned at the outset of polling at the MIC elections today.

Thousands of MIC delegates and observers at the Putra World Trade Centre have gathered for the polling exercise which will see the largest Indian-based party choose its deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members.

Party president S Samy Vellu inadvertantly sparked off some confusion when he sought to clear the main Dewan Merdeka hall of non-delegates.

"All those who are not delegates please leave the hall. If you don't leave, then this election will be considered null and void and we have to conduct another election, so please leave," he said into the microphone, according to a Bernama report.

That confused the few hundred observers who were seated in Dewan Merdeka, which then led to a state of 'unease' among some party members, and dissatisfaction among others.

Police clear area

While some observers shouted in anger, others blocked delegates from outside from entering the main hall. Samy Vellu later returned to the podium to warn of "delegates outside wanting to come in."

"Allow them in or they will miss the flight. This flight does not fly all the time, only once in three years," said Samy.

According to the Bernama report, observers outside the hall began to calm down a few minutes later after the police special branch moved in to clear the area.

Earlier, BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said although parties strive for the welfare and interests of the respective communities that they represent, mutual understanding and cooperation were the hallmarks of the coalition.

"This should be the guiding principle and practice of every BN component and the proof of this is the harmonious and cordial racial relations among the people of diverse races in the country," he said in his opening speech.

Results at 6.30pm

Meanwhile, the hour of reckoning for several top leaders in the MIC has arrived.

Voting to elect the deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) members at the 60th party congress is said to have been completed by 4pm.

Incumbent deputy president S Subramaniam is facing vice-president G Palanivel in a one-to-one battle for the No 2 post while seven aspirants have joined the fray for the vice-presidency.

They are incumbents S Veerasingham and KS Nijhar, party secretary-general S Sothinathan, party veteran M Muthupalaniappan, Kuala Lumpur MIC chief VKK Teagarajan, former Si Rusa state assemblyman E Yohevel and an unknown P Thiagarasan from Klang.

Fifty-one candidates are vying for the 23 CWC seats.

Samy Vellu was returned unopposed as president at the presidential nomination day in March. He is serving a record 10th term.

The results are expected to be announced at about 6.30pm .