GEORGE TOWN: MIC, one of the oldest political parties in the nation, will not survive the next general election if its leaders squabble over party positions and petty politics, said its deputy
president, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
Despite such a grim outlook for the Barisan Nasional component party, he said the party’s top leadership would find an amicable solution to the party’s infighting.
“The party has been weakened from the past two general elections. I am worried that if we do not get our act together soon, MIC will have a major problem in the next general election,” he said after visiting Penang Hospital, here yesterday.
The party’s No. 2 said there was an “absolute” need for party leaders and their rivals to put aside differences for the sake of MIC’s survival.
“We have to come up with a holistic solution. The sooner we recognise the issues, the faster we can resolve them. Next, all groups must come together and move forward as one team.
“This is important to allow MIC to find a solution that is acceptable to all. The party can no longer afford to have feuds and infighting,” he said, adding that MIC was at a crossroads.
Dr Subramaniam said the party leadership should acknowledge the unhappiness among members and rectify the situation.
“It is better for MIC not to be in denial. If the issues were not serious, why did the Registrar of Societies (RoS) tell us to hold fresh elections?”
Dr Subramaniam said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel would convene a meeting between party leaders and their rivals to reach a compromise between them.
“This committee will help us move forward. I am waiting for the president to call for the meeting.”
In an apparent reconciliatory effort, MIC had, on Thursday, announced its decision to set up a special committee, made up of its leaders and their rivals, to discuss the re-election. The committee will discuss alleged irregularities in last year’s election.
Palanivel was quoted as saying that the issues raised by the committee would be discussed in a meeting between him, his deputy and RoS officials next week.
Earlier this week, MIC strategic director S. Vell Paari said MIC’s central working committee
members could not hold office or meetings as RoS had nullified the results of the party election held in Malacca.