MIC heading for a split - Malaysia Insider

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by Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — An advertisement on page 12 of the Makkal Osai Tamil daily yesterday is likely to have sent shivers down the spine of the top MIC leadership led by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

The reason — the advertisement placed by MIC members signals a permanent parting of ways that could lead to the MIC splitting into two as had happened to Umno in 1988.

That year Umno split, with former Umno vice-president and Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah calling his half Semangat 46 and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad registering Umno Baru.

The advertisement, under the title “Maperum Perani” or Great Movement, is calling on expelled MIC members and Indians above the age of 18 to gather in Klang this Sunday and launch a reawakening movement.

They said the movement is to take charge of the Indian future and reject, without spelling it out, the MIC as representatives of the Indian community and Samy Vellu and his coterie of yesmen as community leaders.

The organisers are simply calling themselves Committee for Reawakening of the Indian community but it is clear supporters of former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam are involved.

In fact the reason why the top MIC leadership is taking note of the advertisement is that they believe Subramaniam is behind the “new awakening” initiative.

Subramaniam, after losing the battle to inherit the MIC from Samy Vellu, is looking for a new political platform to stay relevant.

Subramaniam lost by a slim majority of 62 votes to incumbent deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel in the recent MIC elections.

While he was defeated the results show his support in the MIC had in fact marginally increased compared to the 2006 contest where he lost to Palanivel by over 400 votes.

The mood this time for change in the MIC was just not large enough for him to win and the vote was also split, with the third challenger Datuk S. Sothinathan garnering about 18 per cent of the votes.

MIC insiders say Subramaniam has emerged as a threat to Samy Vellu and his anointed successor Palanivel and they say it is no surprise that the former is facing possible expulsion from the party.

The MIC central working committee is meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to act against Subramaniam for allegedly tarnishing the party image — a catch-all charge that has been used by Samy Vellu to expel critics over the years.

The incipient reawakening movement therefore is a dagger pointed at Samy Vellu — if he proceeds to expel Subramaniam he faces a situation similar to Umno in 1988.

The MIC could split into two, with Subramaniam taking what is left of the party with him, leaving a shell for Samy Vellu to preside over.

His aim may well be to reconnect with the Indian grassroots that fled to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) after being inspired by the Hindraf and Makkal Sakti movement.

But Subramaniam will be competing with others like the unregistered Human Rights Party and the officially recognised Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia for the loyalties of the Tamil masses.

The question is: does Subramaniam, 65, have the stamina to start a new and uncertain political journey after a long career in the MIC?

His supporters are forcing him to choose. In fact, the gathering in Klang is to present him with an ultimatum — form a new party, join the PR or retire from politics.

Subramaniam is overseas contemplating his fate and is expected to make a major announcement either before Tuesday or immediately after.