Crisis in Malaysia's MIC; both top leaders claim to be chief

Malaysia's largest ethnic Indians-based political party is facing a major leadership crisis with both its top leaders claiming to be the party chief.
Malaysian Indian Congress President G Palanivel is adamant that he is still the party supremo.
"Let me make it absolutely clear that I am the President of MIC and there shall be no doubt whatsoever on this," he said in a statement here today.
Palanivel yesterday suspended the membership of 15 MIC leaders including his deputy and vice president for 12 months with immediate effect.
They were suspended for not abiding by his instructions to not hold any Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.

Hours after his suspension, party deputy S Subramaniam said that he was taking over as acting president until re- elections were held.

Subramaniam claimed Palanivel's membership had been stripped after he took party matters to court.
Palanivel had automatically lost his membership when he submitted a judicial review against the Registrar of Societies (RoS) without the party's approval, he said.
Palanivel said that the move to sack him and four others was an after thought as this was done after he had suspended the 15 office bearers.
Provisions of the MIC Constitution did not in any way affect the membership of members who commence legal proceedings against third parties, Palanivel said.

On Monday, High Court dismissed two judicial review applications filed by Palanivel and four others against the RoS, which had investigated the party for irregularities in its 2013 election and directed it to hold fresh elections.
"Following the court decision, the 2009 CWC will act in the interim to hold re-elections for all levels of the party," Subramaniam said.