The crisis surrounding the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has worried the party’s partners in the Barisan Nasional political coalition, and now senior UMNO chiefs are firing off statements sniping at their compatriots in the MIC.
Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin issued a terse admonition to MIC’s leadership on its handling of the party’s internal crisis.
“We can only advise (them) but, if in the end, MIC leaders feel the (agreed) proposal will not solve the crisis and they want to do it their way, go ahead,” he said, as quoted by The Star Online.
“Do what you want to do but if later the party becomes split and has issues and disputes, don’t blame us (the Barisan leadership).”
He said this in response to MIC strategic director AK Ramalingam wanting to initiate a judicial review of the Registrar of Societies Mohammad Razin Abdullah’s statements on February 6, declaring the 2013 MIC party elections null and void, thus ordering the party to hold fresh elections or face deregistration.
Muhyiddin added that BN leaders had come up with a proposal for MIC to hold new elections, an idea supported by MIC president G Palanivel and deputy president Dr S Subramaniam.
“The proposal is not that difficult to be implemented but taking the crisis to the court might just make matters more complicated as they will have to wait for a court decision, but that is their right.
“I leave it to MIC leaders ‘who are smart, well-educated and experienced people’.
“We don’t want to take sides and if they think they can resolve the crisis their own way, we will just let them do it their way.”
Meanwhile, MIC vice-president S Balakrishnan issued a warning to Home Minister and UMNO vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying that the UMNO strongman should steer clear of MIC’s internal affairs.
“We are capable of handling ourselves, and he has no right to question the president’s capabilities in solving the Indian community’s problems, of which he has no clue whatsoever,” he said in another article by The Star.
Zahid had called on the MIC yesterday to solve its crisis through a new election, rather than taking the matter to court.
He also noted the acquiescence of the MIC president and deputy president to the BN’s proposal of holding fresh party polls, but that “now he’s changed his mind again”.
“He should quit doing that and settle this politically instead of filing for a review against RoS’ (Registrar of Societies) order,” he said of Palanivel’s indecision.
“Be fair to your followers and the Indian community. Let the party be led by those who are qualified and chosen by the party members.
“How are you going to solve issues pertaining to the Indian community if you can’t even solve your party’s issues?”
Balakrishnan backed Ramalingam’s move to take the RoS to court, saying his party’s crisis would not have existed were it not for the Registrar of Societies’ actions.
“RoS took it upon itself to appoint the 2009 elected Central Working Committee members as the interim CWC, which is also beyond its powers,” he said.
“RoS also did not mention the nine appointed members of the CWC and the president’s prerogative to appoint the secretary general, treasurer general and information officer.”
“The entire issue was between RoS and MIC, but now it has been manipulated by the deputy president and his group in an attempt to force the president to resign, so they can take over the party through the back door,” he added.
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