The MIC Face-off: Palanivel Outgunned and Outmanoeuvred

 

By Ibrahman

Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is now in dire straits – he is no longer an MIC member as he had brought party affairs to court which contravenes the party constitution, if the constitution is to be taken into account.

He has been expelled by the party central working committee (CWC) for taking party matters to court, as stipulated under the party constitution.

While he has lost his position in the party if the CWC’s decision is to be taken as lawful, his ministerial post is now under question.

Depending on the views and decision of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, Palanivel’s political future hangs on a very loose rope.

Under normal circumstances, a minister is picked based on the person’s position in a party, whether  he represents a party or a group, such Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, who was made a Senator representing journalists group, and subsequently appointed as a minister in the Cabinet, along with a few other appointees.

For Palanivel, he was appointed minister based on him being the president of MIC and now, when he is not even a member of the party, it would be highly unlikely that he will be retained.

Moreover, the MIC problem has been discussed at Prime Minister’s level, where Palanivel and deputy president Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam had met with  Najib and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, culminating in a decision reached and signed for a fresh election to be held to put the party back in order.

However, Palanivel had deviated from the agreement and instead challenged the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in court – a move that has placed him in a very awkward position.

Palanivel cannot go back to Najib for help nor can he turn to former party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for advise as he had ignored and angered the party president for three decades since the problem first emerged early last year.

While waiting for his appeal against the court’s decision, the party Central Working Committee (CWC) appointed in 2009 and recognised by the ROS to prepare for a fresh election, Palanivel is ‘walking the political path ‘directionless and in limbo.’

Palanivel failed in trying to overturn ROS’s decision for a fresh election because he knew he had lost the support of party grassroots.

Since taking over the party at the end of 2010 from Samy Vellu, Palanivel has been grappling with indecisiveness and losing direction- for himself as well as for the party.

The party, which is supposed to defend and protect the Indian community has been practically dormant, as members came under the care of BN coalition led by Umno.

He had not even put on the drawing board how the party could uplift the community’s economic and social standings in a changed political and economic landscape. He had wanted to stay on as president until the party election scheduled for next year but luck ran out for him.

The crunch came last year when party members began complaining of phantom voters in the party 2013 poll, which he ignored and crushed under the power of the president.

Dissatisfied, the members reported to the ROS – a process which took almost a year to be sorted out, culminating in a fresh election to be called, which is the current position.

Outgunned and out manoeuvred, Palanivel’s only hope is for the court to be in his favour.