Embattled MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel has openly voiced his disagreement with the Barisan Nasional’s proposal to set up a secretariat to help solve the crisis in the party.

He said the proposal by BN secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to set up a secretariat was ‘very disturbing’.

Earlier today, Tengku Adnan had suggested the setting up of a secretariat, comprising BN component parties to help run the party until the crisis is resolved.

Palanivel said he was not able to attend the meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today as he had to rush his wife to the hospital.

He said despite informing his situation to Najib, his representative Datuk S. Sothinathan was not allowed to attend the meeting.

However, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam was allowed in the meeting with Najib.

“I, as the President of MIC, am not willing to let third parties (Barisan Nasional) to run our beloved Party. The Deputy President of MIC may be willing to allow third parties to run MIC and lose our self dignity and respect but I will not,” he said in a press statement.

He said there are party constitution and relevant by-laws to run the party and conduct party elections.
“Any other course of action as proposed would be illegal, null and void,” he said.

“I also owe it to the members of MIC who are the grass-root supporters, Branch, Divisional Congresses, State Liaison Committee as well as National level Leaders of MIC not to allow this grave act of injustice to take place,” he added.

Palanivel said although MIC is a BN component party, it is a political party in its own rights and government by its constitution.

“Barisan Nasional should respect the Constitution of MIC and not invade into the administration of MIC as proposed,” he said adding that BN has no jurisdiction whatsoever to take over the administration or conduct MIC elections.