The walls appear to be closing in on Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Maicci) president KK Eswaran.

According to a source, more than the required number of states have expressed lack of confidence in his leadership.

The states, in their respective resolutions, have also called on all Maicci office bearers to quit in view of the three office bearers who resigned recently in order to pave the way for a fresh elections.

eswaran maicci 23_01_2009 They have also called for the holding of a special delegates conference.

"Either way it looks like Eswaran has to leave. He could either resign and seek a fresh mandate or end up being forced out," the source told Malaysiakini .

"This is the first time in the history of Maicci since its inception in 1950 have such resolutions come forth," he added.

Maicci's management council will be meeting at 3pm today and Eswaran, who became president last June, is expected to face fireworks.

Attack on Hindraf

Maicci and its president have drawn flak following Eswaran's public outburst against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Among others, he had blasted Waythamoorthy for being ungrateful to the land he calls home and the land that he has made his living.

Eswaran was referring to Waythamoorthy's stint in India during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Chennai, where the Hindraf leader had declared that Malaysian Indians are ill-treated and marginalised.

Claiming to be speaking in the interest of the Indian community, Eswaran had also said that the public must stop thinking that the government should "spoon-feed" Indians with opportunities and embark on their own efforts to improve their wealth.

Eswaran also criticised Suhakam commissioner Dr Denison Jayasooria for claiming that government efforts to uplift the Indians were delayed and for asking the Indian government, during the convention, to send a task force to survey the situation of local Indians.

Following this, three Maicci office bearers, secretary-general S Rengasamy, assistant-secretary Suresh Kumar Gorasia and treasurer S Tamil Selvam, resigned in protest.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) announced that it is severing all working ties with Maicci in protest of Eswaran's remarks.