MIC Wilayah Persekutuan State Women's Wing

MIC cannot practise caste politics, says Najib

SERDANG: The new MIC leadership cannot practise caste politics if it wants to bring about real change in the party, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He said every candidate defeated in today’s MIC elections still had a role to play to help in the process of transformation towards the ultimate goal of the Barisan Nasional, which was to win the next general election.

“Do not reject them just because they are not in our camp or do not belong to our caste. We must accept them because we must go beyond that. We are leaders of the Indian community.

“If you exclude any of them, then you cannot blame others for excluding you, so that’s why MIC cannot practise caste politics any longer,” he said when opening the MIC general assembly at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here today.
He said participation in the MIC was growing and, as such, the party must reflect the aspirations and needs of the Indian community as a whole.

Najib said the new MIC leadership must reflect good governance and fair practice, be magnanimous and have a big heart to welcome those who did not win the elections.

“We want victory not because of power … but power is necessary for us to change the lives of our community, ethnic groups, people and the country as a whole.

“Today, I want to emphasise that I welcome not only the change in the MIC leadership, from the president right down to the grassroots, but what I want is real change, not cosmetic or personality changes.

“We must consolidate, and I hope the MIC will unify the Indian community.

Those at loggerheads must close ranks. Forget about the past, bring them together, and the MIC will gain strength and the BN, greater respect,” he said.

Najib praised the MIC for having conducted the re-elections in a peaceful atmosphere with no dispute over the election results.

– BERNAMA

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/06/mic-cannot-practise-caste-politics-says-najib/

Saravanan loses race for MIC No 2

Youth and Sports Deputy Minister M Saravanan, who was touted as the favourite to win the MIC deputy president post, was defeated by Perak state assembly speaker SK Devamany.

Saravanan, a former vice-president, lost by 17 votes in the party's central committee elections today.

Devamany, who was defeated in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat during the last general election, garnered 698 votes while Saravanan received 681 votes.

After the results were announced, Saravanan, who is also the MP for Tapah, conceded defeat and congratulated the victor.

"It was a decision made by the delegates and I accept it wholeheartedly. I will continue giving undivided support to the party," he was reported as saying.

As for the three vice-president posts up for grabs, former Kota Raja MP SA Vigneswaran, former Youth chief T Mohan and former MIC treasurer Jaspal Singh made the cut.

Those who won the 23 CWC seats are L Manikam, Daljit Singh, K Thanakaraj, TH Subra, S Kannan, S Ananthan, J Dhina Garan, Velango, R Nadarajah, S Vell Paari, G Raman, M Madumaarimathu, N Muniandy, V Asokan, V Nagaiyah, P Kamalanathan, G Kannan, R Subramaniam, K Raveen Kumar, R Goonasekaran, A Sakthivel, KR Parthiban and M Gnana Segaran.

The polling process involved 1,400 delegates who attended MIC's annual general assembly held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps).

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/318657

Inject life to MIC's struggles, PM tells new leadership

SERDANG: With a new leadership at the helm, MIC must adopt real change with a clear sense of direction, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The prime minister said MIC leaders must be committed and dedicated to helping Indians of all caste and be seen as a party for all Malaysians.

"My wish is for the new MIC to inject new life into the party's struggles instead of just assuming a cosmetic change.

"They should go to the ground, listen to the people and find out their problems.

"I also urge them to be magnanimous and incorporate the losers and minorities members as true leaders of the community," Najib said in his speech at the opening of MIC's 67th annual general meeting here.

Najib said party members "should stick" with Barisan Nasional, using the term "nambikei" to stress his point and it was the Government's responsibility to look after the welfare of all.

"We have specific programmes and agenda for all communities.

"This is something nobody can dispute," he said adding that some decisions had to be made although it was unpop**ar.

Najib said Barisan would continue to carry out policies which could benefit all Malaysians without "playing politics all the time."

"I may not be able to solve all problems but be assured of my sincerity to help all Malaysians," he said.

In his speech, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam called for the banning of the word "pendatang."

Subramaniam said it hurts the Indians and Chinese to be addressed as such.

"We are born here and are not immigrants but true Malaysian citizens.

"Stern action must be taken against anyone regardless of positions and status who disrupt this muhibbah spirit," he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/11/06/najib-razak-mic-must-make-real-change-with-new-leadership/

PUTRAJAYA: An appeal brought by former MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (pic) and three others to set aside the directive of the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for the party to hold re-elections has been dismissed.

The other three applicants were vice-presidents Datuk S. Sothinathan, Datuk S. Balakrishnan and former secretary-general A. Prakash Rao.

Court of Appeal judge Justice Aziah Ali, who chaired the three-man panel, made the decision on the grounds that the RoS did not act beyond its power to give directive for the party to hold fresh polls.

Also presiding at the bench on Monday were Justices Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid and Vernon Ong Lam Kiat.

The court ordered the appellants to pay RM90,000 in costs.

On June 15, the High Court here dismissed their judicial review application.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Asmabi Mohamad made the order on the grounds that the court had no reason to interfere with the RoS decision.

Palanivel fails in Court of Appeal to set aside RoS directive - Nation | The Star Online PUTRAJAYA: An appeal brought by former MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and three others to set aside the directive of the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for the party to hold re-elections has been dismissed.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mahkamah Tinggi sebentar tadi menolak permohonan semakan kehakiman dikemukakan lima pemegang jawatan dalam MIC bagi mencabar tindakan, kenyataan dan arahan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS) berhubung pemilihan semula parti itu. Hakim Datuk Asmabi Mohamad membuat keputusan itu selepas mendapati mahkamah tiada alasan untuk campur tangan dalam keputusan ROS kerana ia adalah munasabah. Mahkamah turut mengarahkan lima pemegang jawatan dalam parti MIC itu termasuk Presiden G Palanivel yang bertindak selaku pemohon membayar kos sebanyak RM90,000.

Selanjutnya di : http://www.bharian.com.my/node/61419?m=1

DAULAT TUANKU! DAULAT TUANKU! DAULAT TUANKU!

India extends electronic visa facility to Malaysians

NEW DELHI: The Indian government has announced that its electronic visa scheme has been extended to 31 more countries, including Malaysia.

This followed the Home Ministry's announcement on Wednesday that the ministry had decided to rename its "tourist visa-on-arrival" scheme to the "e-tourist visa".

The scheme was renamed as tourists tended to misunderstand the scheme's name, and would fly into India presuming that they would be granted a visa-on-arrival there, reported the Times of India.

"It has been observed that the name of the scheme is creating confusion among tourists. Tourist presumed that visa will be granted on arrival… However, in the current system, the pre-authorisation of visa to foreigners is being given prior to travel," said a senior home ministry official.

According to the daily, under the e-tourist visa scheme, a foreign tourist is required to apply for a visa online by uploading their photograph, passport and paying the visa fee online.

The visa authorities would then process the application and send them an e-visa or electronic travel authorisation via e-mail within 72 hours.

The e-visa scheme currently covers 45 countries and can be availed across nine major international airports.

The daily added that with the expansion of the scheme by June, the list would go up to 76 countries and 16 airports.

The airports to be added to the existing list of nine where foreign citizens from eligible countries can land with an e-tourist visa are Jaipur, Amritsar, Gaya, Lucknow, Trichy, Varanasi and Ahmedabad.

The ministry also stated that the airports were chosen due to the large number of foreign tourists arrivals there. - Bernama

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/16/India-evisa-to-malaysia/

12 March 2015

PRESS STATEMENT BY
YBHG DATO’ S. SOTHINATHAN, VICE PRESIDENT CUM SECRETARY GENERAL OF MIC

Again today, a number of people have unlawfully trespassed into the MIC Headquarters and claim to have illegally taken control of the said building. Some of the staffs of the MIC Headquarters have also been assaulted by a group claiming to be part of MIC Youth in carrying out their illegal acts.

The valid and legal Central Working Committee (CWC) of MIC elected and appointed in 2013 had scheduled an Emergency Meeting at 4.00 pm today and the notice of the meeting was sent to all the members of the Central Working Committee. However, immediately after the notices were sent, a purported notice of another CWC meeting scheduled for the same day at 5.00 pm was issued by purportedly some of the 2009 interim CWC. Of course, the date of the notice was backdated to 9 March 2015.

Thereafter, the illegal meeting of the alleged 2009 interim CWC was brought forward to 2.30 pm intentionally to interrupt and cause chaos to the emergency meeting of the proper CWC called by the President. Anticipating violent conduct and interruption to the proper CWC meeting, the President decided to call off the planned emergency CWC meeting and notices of cancellation were issued. No one interrupts the illegal meetings of the alleged 2009 interim CWC but the moment the President acts in accordance to the MIC Constitution and proper procedure, illegal and underhand tactics are utilized by these individuals.

As anticipated, this unruly group of people had again resorted to underhand tactics of violent conduct, harassment and assault in trespassing into the MIC Headquarters. All these chaos and mischievous conducts of these individuals are the direct result of the unlawful directives given by the Registrar of Societies (ROS). ROS should realize the adverse outcome of their unlawful actions.

The Members and the Branch, Division, State and National Leaders of MIC can witness for themselves the illegal and violent conduct of these individuals who also claim to be leaders in MIC. It can be seen that these individuals have no respect whatsoever and are not interested to adhere to the clear provisions of the MIC Constitution and they would do anything to further their political agenda by whatever illegal means possible. Obviously they are afraid to face the Party fresh elections announced by the President knowing that they will not succeed with such conducts.

MIC is a Party of the Indian community in Malaysia and not selected few who use underhand tactics. I urge the President to exercise his unhindered powers in the MIC Constitution to take appropriate actions against all these individuals for their mischievous conducts which are detrimental to MIC. These illegal conducts must stop immediately. MIC should be free of gangsters and individuals who have no respect for the MIC Constitution and the law.

DATO’ S. SOTHINATHAN
VICE PRESIDENT CUM SECRETARY-GENERAL
MALAYSIAN INDIAN CONGRESS

Amaran Sothinathan: Jangan persoal status Palanivel

March 4, 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Mac: Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri G. Palanivel tidak melanggar mana-mana peraturan dalam perlembagaan parti yang boleh membuatkan keahlian beliau dilucutkan.

Menurut Setiausaha Agungnya, Datuk S. Sothinathan, tuduhan bahawa Palanivel bukan lagi ahli di dalam parti tersebut setelah beliau membuat keputusan untuk bawa Jabatan Pendaftaran Pertubuhan (ROS) ke mahkamah adalah tidak benar.

“Dalam perlembagaan parti memang ada dinyatakan mana-mana ahli yang saman ahli MIC sendiri akan dilucutkan keahliannya. Cuma masalahnya sekarang, Presiden saman agensi kerajaan, bukannya ahli MIC.

“Perlembagaan mana yang mereka ikut?” katanya kepada The Malaysian Times (TMT) hari ini.

Pada 24 Februari lalu, bekas Setiausaha Agung, A. Prakash Rao bagi pihak Palanivel, Sothinathan dan Naib Presiden, Datuk S. Balakrishnan memfailkan tindakan undang-undang menyaman ROS selepas badan itu mengarahkan parti untuk mengadakan pilihan raya baru atau parti itu dibatalkan.

Sejurus selepas itu, bekas Pengarah Strategi parti, Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari dan Timbalan Presiden, Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam mendakwa bahawa Palanivel bukan lagi ahli MIC mengikut perlembagaan parti di bawah Perkara 91 dan 15.6 yang melarang mana-mana anggota parti daripada memfailkan tindakan undang-undang tanpa merujuk kepada Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat (CWC).

Mesyuarat CWC diketuai Subramaniam tidak sah

Susulan itu, satu mesyuarat CWC diadakan pada Isnin lepas bagi membincangkan tentang proses pemilihan semula parti dan mesyuarat tersebut telah diketuai oleh Subramaniam sendiri.

Bagi Sothinathan, mesyuarat CWC yang baru diadakan itu adalah tidak sah kerana mesyuarat CWC sepatutnya diketuai oleh Palanivel selaku Presiden parti yang sah dan bukannya Subramaniam.

“Mesyuarat itu adalah tidak sah kerana ia diadakan bukan atas arahan Presiden ataupun Setiausaha Agung parti.

“Saya tidak mahu ulas lebih lanjut perkara ini kerana bagi saya mesyuarat itu sendiri adalah tidak sah maka apa yang mereka bincangkan juga saya anggap tidak sah,” ujarnya.

Pada 5 Disember tahun lepas, ROS telah mengarahkan MIC untuk mengadakan pemilihan semula bagi jawatan Naib Presiden dan ahli CWC dalam tempoh 90 hari bagi mengelak parti dibatalkan pendaftaran.

Manakala pada 9 Febuari yang lalu, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mengumumkan bahawa ROS telah menetapkan tarikh bagi pemilihan semula bagi jawatan Presiden akan diadakan pada bulan Mei nanti.

Pemilihan bagi jawatan Pemuda, Wanita, Putera dan Puteri dan MIC akan diadakan diantara bulan April hingga Jun, pemilihan peringkat cawangan akan diadakan pada bulan April manakala peringkat bahagian akan diadakan pada bulan Jun.

Bagi jawatan CWC, Naib dan Timbalan Presiden p**a pemilihan akan dijalankan pada bulan Jun nanti.

http://www.themalaysiantimes.com.my/amaran-sothinathan-jangan-persoal-status-palanivel/

4 March 2015

PRESS STATEMENT BY
YBHG DATO’ S. BALAKRISHNAN, VICE PRESIDENT MIC

It is has been reported that the Deputy President of MIC is claiming that the President, myself, Dato' Sothinathan, Mr Prakash Rao and Mr Ramalingam have ceased to be members of MIC for filing the judicial review applications against the Registrar of Societies. This clearly shows the desperation and power greed of the Deputy President and his group in their attempt to unlawfully assume positions in the Party. They have resorted to these underhand tactics knowing that they will not succeed in the fresh elections.

Lets make it very clear that the judicial review applications are filed against the ROS and not MIC or the CWC of MIC. The clear wordings of Article 91 of the MIC Constitution refer to proceedings being taken by MIC members to challenge the decisions of the CWC in respect of their rights, obligations, duties and privileges as members. Our applications for judicial review is not against any decision of the CWC but against the wrongful acts of the ROS.

Article 91 further restrains members from resorting to court proceedings on behalf of other member or in respect of the rendering or meaning of the MIC Constitution. The judicial review proceedings against the ROS are not in respect of any of these scenarios. Therefore, I urge the Deputy President to stop issuing ludicrous statements such that the President and others have ceased being members of MIC. I can only say to those making such frivolous remarks to get proper legal advice on the MIC Constitutional provisions before making a fool out of themselves.

I further urge the Deputy President to stop causing further damage to the Party and pretending to be the innocent party by going around putting the blame on the President.

The President has been acting at all times in accordance to the MIC Constitution and the law. But yet ROS unlawfully and without any justification directed that the 2009 elected CWC members must form the Interim CWC for the fresh elections purposes. The President, still wanting to amicably resolve issues, sent a letter to the ROS setting out the full and proper composition of the Interim CWC in compliance to the MIC Constitution which also went unanswered.

The group led by the Deputy President conducted illegal meetings of the Interim CWC and gave their own interpretation to the contents of the letter from ROS by denying the express Presidential powers under the MIC Constitution. The Deputy President also rescinded the amicable settlement reached in the morning of 18 February 2015 with the Prime Minister by holding another illegal Interim CWC meeting on the same evening. It was agreed that the President will call for the Interim CWC meeting. Again, on 2 March 2015, the Deputy President called for and chaired another illegal meeting of the alleged Interim CWC.

All these illegal and unlawful conducts have made it almost impossible to amicably resolve the issues and carry out the fresh elections in good order. All these are the continuous unlawful and illegal conducts of the Deputy President and the group of people he leads. He having done all these acts, turns around and blame the President for the issues faced by MIC. This is totally unbecoming of the Deputy President and a member of the Cabinet. Thus, the only avenue available for MIC and the others to seek justice would be through the Court, which was the reason for the applications.

All the issues can be resolved if all parties involved work within the ambit of the law and with due respect to the provisions of the MIC Constitution. Sadly, that's not the case thus far as the Deputy President has no regards whatsoever to the provisions of the MIC Constitution. He is only interested in his unlawful attempt to take over the President's seat by whatever unlawful means possible. The President has agreed for fresh elections and he never backed down from that proposal. I hope the Deputy President would stop going around misleading the people on the true facts relating to the issues with ROS and face the elections honourably.

DATO' S. BALAKRISHNAN
VICE PRESIDENT
MALAYSIAN INDIAN CONGRESS

24 February 2015

PRESS STATEMENT BY
YBHG DATO’ S. BALAKRISHNAN
VICE PRESIDENT MIC

It is reported that this morning, YB Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Minister of Home Affairs (“Datuk Seri Zahid”) has made disparaging remarks against the President of MIC in relation to the judicial review application filed by Mr Ramalingam, the current Strategic Director of MIC.

Datuk Seri Zahid, being a senior Cabinet Minister found it fit to make scathing attacks against the President without checking the facts with him before talking to the media. I am compelled to respond to such unwarranted remarks made against the President.

Firstly, all these issues between MIC and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) would not have arisen if only ROS, which is under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, had acted within the ambit of the law, namely the Societies Act, 1966 and had due regard to the clear provisions of the MIC Constitution and the relevant Bye-Laws made pursuant to the MIC Constitution.

Mr Ramalingam, is a winning candidate in the elections for the Central Working Committee held in 2013. He is clearly aggrieved by the acts of the ROS in declaring all the elections held in 2013 as null and void, more so when ROS has no such powers to do so. Mr Ramalingam had exercised his rights under the law to file for judicial review against the acts of the ROS. That is the only remedy available to Mr Ramalingam and in fact, all other winning candidates, to seek justice.

The President or anyone else cannot stop or deprive any individuals of their Constitutional right of access to the judicial system in the Country to seek justice for wrongs inflicted upon them. It is their right and everyone have to respect them. Datuk Seri Zahid too should respect their rights and if he believes what ROS did was correct, he should let the Court decide on it.

The President had agreed to amicably resolve the issues with the ROS by agreeing to fresh elections for all posts. Let's not forget that it was the President's proposal for fresh elections for all positions in the Party that he announced on 1 February 2015 which Datuk Seri Zahid welcomed on 2 February 2015. Datuk Seri Zahid should know that by the President calling for fresh elections, he is prepared for the members to choose their leaders in MIC for all positions.

However, ROS took it upon themselves to make further findings (also beyond their powers) to declare all the elections held in 2013 as null and void. They went on to appoint the 2009 elected CWC members to form the Interim CWC for the purposes of the fresh elections when they have no such powers and such a move created so many other issues. ROS did not mention anything about the nine appointed members of the CWC and the President's sole prerogative to appoint the Secretary General, Treasurer General and Information Officer under the MIC Constitution.

However, the group led by the Deputy President of MIC, are now acting in direct contradiction to the provisions of the MIC Constitution by claiming that the President cannot exercise his express powers as the President under the MIC Constitution. Sadly, ROS seems to be acting in cohorts with them in attending the illegal meeting of the Interim CWC held on 13 February 2015.

In a discussion held in the morning of 18 February 2015 with the Prime Minister, the President had agreed again for fresh elections and for the 2009 CWC to form the Interim CWC but of course, subject to the President's rights and powers under the MIC Constitution being intact. It was decided that the President will call for the meeting of the Interim CWC. However, in the same evening, the Deputy President of MIC, in clear act of insubordination and rescinding the settlement reached in the morning, chaired and held another illegal meeting of the Interim CWC.

Who is then the person who had acted contrary to the settlement reached? Why Datuk Seri Zahid has nothing to say on the acts of ROS officers attending the illegal meeting of the Interim CWC on 13 February 2015 and also the conduct of the Deputy President of MIC in rescinding the settlement reached? Why is the President the one being targeted? Why the selective attack on the President?

I'm informed that the President has written to the Prime Minister on the conduct of the Deputy President of MIC rescinding the settlement reached on 18 February 2015. The President has again given his proposals to the Prime Minister for amicable resolution, though he is left with no choice but to seek justice from the Court for wrongs being inflicted upon MIC. All the issues can be resolved if all parties involved work within the ambit of the law and with due respect to the provisions of the MIC Constitution. Sadly, that's not the case thus far.

The issue was between ROS and MIC but now it has been manip**ated by the Deputy President and his group in an attempt to force the President to resign from his position so that they can take over the Party through the back door. The President will not allow such thing to happen. If the Deputy President is confident of challenging the President, please do so and not through other illegal means since the President had already agreed for fresh elections. Datuk Seri Zahid should refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of MIC, which we are capable of handling ourselves and he has no right to question the President's capabilities in solving the plight of the Indian community to which he has no clue whatsoever.

DATO' S BALAKRISHNAN
VICE PRESIDENT
MALAYSIAN INDIAN CONGRESS

Datuk Palaniappan removed as Palanivel’s Political Secretary!

MIC President Datuk Seri G.Palanivel today removed Datuk P.Palaniappan as his Political Secretary. This comes as a shock to MIC circles as he is known to be a close confidante of the President.

Palaniappan is also the Chairman of MIC Selayang Division from Selangor and with his removal, Palanivel’s support in the division will be further eroded at this crucial moment when he is facing a Presidential election.

Until days ago Palaniappan was seen in Cameron Highlands attending to some work in the President’s Parliamentary constituency.

Palaniappan is a former Teacher and is also the chairman of MIC Kuala Garing Branch in Rawang. He was the one who headed the CWC candidates aligned to Palanivel in the 2013 party elections which has now been declared null and void.

Although there has been no official announcement from Palanivel’s office, sources close to the President confirmed the removal of Palaniappan.

MIC sources said Palaniappan’s departure from Palanivel’s political inner circle signals eroding support for the President in the state of Selangor which is the largest state in MIC in terms of membership and delegates strength.

MIC Selayang division which is headed by Palaniappan has some 65 branches under its roof. Palaniappan is also one of the elected members of the 2009 CWC and thereby is poised to add further support to Dr Subra’s camp in the event he decides to support Subra.

As the lead campaigner for Palanivel’s team in 2013 elections he was the face of Palanivel’s team and his presence in the campaign team indirectly sent a strong indication to the delegates that Palanivel is behind the team led by Palaniappan. He himself contested and won as one of the CWC members in the 2013 party elections.

Palaniappan could not be reached for comment or confirmation.