29/05/2010
By Patrick Sennyah and Minderjeet Kaur
By Patrick Sennyah and Minderjeet Kaur
Yesterday, risking losing his position — as observers interpret the severity of his action — the secretary-general convened a press conference at the same venue the now-prominent sacked deputy MIC Youth chief V. Mugilan was updating the media on tomorrow’s launch of Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) to pile the pressure on the party chief to hasten his exit.
Murugesan said he had been inundated with telephone calls and text messages from party members and others in the community, prodding him to make a stand amid the growing controversy on the question of when Samy Vellu should relinquish the post he has held since 1979.
But Murugesan said he was not specifically fussing over the tenure of the president nor the merits in arguments asking him to step down now.
“What I am against is the use of presidential powers to expel a member. That is not what Article 61.2 of the party constitution stipulates.
“They should be given a chance to defend themselves at the disciplinary committee. Sacking is not the first, but last option,” he said.
Article 61.2 empowers the president, after consultation with his deputy, to expel a member who has spoken or acted in any way detrimental to the interests of the party.
Murugesan was referring to the recent sacking of Mugilan, central working committee (CWC) members K.P. Samy and G. Kumar Amaan; and that of Petaling Jaya division leader V. Subramaniam, better known as Barath Maniam.
Samy Vellu had invoked his presidential powers to sack the four, who had spoken out against his retirement plan announcedonMay17,without affording them a hearing.
Murugesan reminded the president that it was he who had set the precedent some 40 years ago by publicly asking the then president, Tun V.T. Sambanthan, to step down.
“History is repeating itself ... or you can call it karma,” he said, referring to a movement that started in 1970, with Samy Vellu reportedly the driving force, to oust Sambanthan, the party leader since 1955.
Sambanthan was succeeded by Tan Sri V.Manickavasagam who served until 1979 when SamyVellu took over.
On Thursday, another CWC member, P. Palaniappan, similarly expressed his dissatisfaction over the sackings, at the venue of Mugilan’s press conference.
Murugesan said he was not joining GAS, merely using the platform and visibility it now provides to speak against the sackings.
On his position,he said:“I thank Samy Vellu for appointing me as the party secretary- general. It is the highest appointed post and I am mindful of the heavy responsibilities.
Murugesan: Party must come first
“For the record, I am also an elected CWC member and it is the very foundation upon which I was appointed as the secretary-general. In view of this, I am answerable to the delegates, the branch chairmen and to my fellow MIC members.
“I cannot forsake my own conscience and the interests of the party to safeguard my own position in the party.
“I have stood up and I am willing to face the consequences. My actions are my own. By all accounts, I have a bright political future and I am making these statements after much thought,” he said.
Murugesan lost in his bid to secure the Subang parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election.
He said the MIC was a democratic party with a system of checks and balances and the delegates had voted in CWC members for a reason.
“If anyone disagrees with the views of another member, he should offer counter arguments, not expel them.
“The Indian community is watching us. The nation is watching us.We are sending the wrong signals to Indian youths who might be interested in joining the party.
“Don’t forget, we must go back to the voters who ultimately decide our fate.”
He said many other MIC leaders were unhappy with the sacking of the four CWC members and it was up to them to voice it out.
“I still have great faith in the MIC and its ability to lead the Indian community. I love this party and it is the responsibility of each member to make it strong and safeguard its democratic principles. This is my contribution towards that cause.”
At a press conference afterwards, Mugilan said 15,000 people were expected to attend the GAS gathering, which would now be held at the Mines International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“We have a police permit and it will be a peaceful rally.”
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