BUTTERWORTH: MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel confirmed he would contest for the number one post in the upcoming party re-election scheduled in May 2015.
He is confident he would retain his president post and is ready to face his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam in the upcoming election, after 22 years without a presidential contest in the party.
"I am confident I can retain my post in the upcoming party polls," he said at Safira Club today after meeting Penang state MIC members.
Palanivel, who is also the Natural Resources and Environment Minister, began his nationwide tour to meet the grassroots members early this month.
The tour began Feb 1 in Johor and reached Penang after visiting Kedah earlier today.
Palanivel claimed most states in Malaysia especially Penang, Kedah, Johor, Selangor and Negri Sembilan gave him 'encouraging support and positive feedback'.
"I receive good feedback and positive response from all branch members and grassroots leaders.”
State MIC chairman M. Karupannan in his speech at the same event said that at least 60 per cent of Penang MIC branch members and grassroots leaders will support party president Datuk Seri G Palanivel in the party's presidential election scheduled in May.
"As a state chairman, I dare to say at least 60 per cent of us will back our Datuk Seri (Palanivel).
He claimed more Penang voters will support incumbent president Palanivel in the upcoming polls.
"Palanivel is a genuine leader and a people's person.
"I don't understand why young leaders in the party trying topple the career of an experienced politician (Palanivel).