'Mampukah Pemilihan Semula Selesai Kemelut MIC?', Bernama, 29 Januari 2015

 

Oleh Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar

KUALA LUMPUR, (Bernama) -- Kemelut yang berlaku dalam MIC mutakhir ini dilihat semakin meruncing. Pemimpin parti pula dilihat dengan cara masing-masing seolah-olah tiada kesepakatan dan penyelesaian dapat dicapai untuk parti itu kembali bangkit dalam arena politik tanah air.

Perbalahan terbuka sesama pemimpin dan ketidakpuasan kumpulan tertentu mengeruhkan pergolakan dalaman sehingga menyaksikan episod beberapa anggota Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat (CWC) dipecat dalam tempoh dua minggu lepas oleh Presiden Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, menimbulkan kemarahan anggota akar umbi.

Ekoran tiada penyelesaian konkrit menangani krisis dalaman itu, beberapa pemimpin parti mendesak Palanivel supaya pemilihan semula semua jawatan dalam MIC diadakan untuk menyelamatkan parti itu.

MIC SEHARUSNMYA AKUR ARAHAN ROS

Mampukah pemilihan baharu semua jawatan dalam MIC itu menjadi langkah penyelesaian terbaik menamatkan krisis dalaman parti itu?

Pensyarah kanan Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan di Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berkata sekiranya MIC akur dengan arahan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS), sudah tentu krisis yang berlaku ketika ini tidak berpanjangan.

Katanya perbincangan pucuk pimpinan MIC bersama pemimpin tertinggi Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam masa terdekat diharap dapat menghasilkan keputusan untuk menyelesaikan krisis dalaman parti yang berusia 68 tahun itu.

Sejak menerima arahan ROS pada 5 Dis, supaya MIC mengadakan pemilihan semula bagi jawatan tiga Naib Presiden dan 23 anggota CWC dalam tempoh 90 hari atau berhadapan risiko dibatalkan pendaftaran, tiada perkembangan positif dilakukan pucuk pimpinan parti untuk menyelesaikan isu berkenaan.

Sivamurugan berpendapat pemilihan baharu parti adalah penyelesaian terbaik.

"Maka selesai sahaja pemilihan, pemimpin yang dipilih perlulah menghentikan politiking dan menumpukan kepada gerak kerja membangunkan masyarakat India," katanya kepada Bernama, di sini.

Bekas Ketua Pemuda MIC Pulau Pinang J. Dhinagaran yang mempunyai pandangan sama dengan Sivamurugan, menjelaskan bahawa semangat anggota parti untuk memulihkan semula MIC, sangat tinggi.

"Jika dilaksanakan pemilihan semula seperti yang dikehendaki ROS, perkara ini sudah pun selesai," katanya kepada Bernama.

Dhinagaran adalah seorang daripada anggota CWC bagi tempoh 2013-2016 yang kemudiannya dibatalkan ROS.

Beliau yakin dengan pemilihan semula, barisan kepimpinan baharu mampu memperkukuh MIC sekaligus membolehkan gerak kerja membangunkan masyarakat India dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.

PENDEKATAN UNILATERAL

MIC kini semakin kesuntukan waktu.

Sivamurugan berpandangan bahawa pendekatan Presiden MIC yang berusaha menyelesaikan kemelut parti tanpa berkongsi dengan pemimpin parti yang lain, menyumbang kepada krisis berpanjangan.

"Timbalan presiden, naib presiden dan anggota CWC tidak tahu menahu apa yang cuba dilakukan Presiden kerana presiden tidak berkongsi pendekatannya untuk menyelesaikan kemelut parti.

"Apa yang boleh saya simpulkan di sini, keadaan yang berlarutan ini juga adalah kerana krisis komunikasi sesama pemimpin," katanya.

Dhinagaran pula mendakwa campur tangan pihak ketiga yang mempengaruhi keputusan dan tindak-tanduk presiden telah menyulitkan lagi keadaan.

"Sebagai Presiden, beliau mesti membuat keputusan sendiri tanpa ada campur tangan pihak lain. Saya berharap Presiden membuat keputusan segera untuk kebaikan MIC," katanya.

Presiden MIC dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata beliau dan timbalannya Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam akan 'berdiam diri' bagi menyelesaikan krisis dalaman parti.

Tindakan yang diambil pemimpin utama MIC itu meliputi mengadakan moratorium, yang akan memberikan peluang kepada mereka berdua berjumpa dan berbincang termasuk menemui Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, yang juga Pengerusi BN.

JIKA MIC TERBATAL, BN TERKESAN

Persoalannya sehingga bila? Jika MIC gagal mengadakan pemilihan semula, ia memungkinkan MIC dibatalkan pendaftarannya. Apakah implikasinya kepada BN?

Mengulas persoalan itu, Sivamurugan berkata MIC sepatutnya sudah mempelajari sejarah itu daripada Umno yang melalui pengalaman pahit dibatalkan pendaftaran pada 1988.

"Untuk meroboh sesebuah parti, ia amat mudah tetapi untuk membina semula (parti) akan memakan masa bertahun-tahun. Pengalaman ini sudah pun dilalui oleh Umno dan MIC sewajarnya mengambil iktibar.

"Jika boleh, janganlah sampai MIC terbatal pendaftarannya... kerana pembinaan semula parti memerlukan perubahan yang sangat besar," katanya.

Timbalan Pengerusi BN Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini dilapor sebagai berkata kepimpinan tertinggi BN akan membantu mengatasi kemelut parti MIC.

Muhyiddin berkata krisis yang melanda MIC jika dibiarkan, bukan sahaja menjejaskan parti itu tetapi juga BN.

Sementara itu, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dilapor sebagai berkata beliau akan bertemu ROS serta presiden dan timbalan presiden MIC awal minggu depan bagi mendapatkan penyelesaian berhubung arahan ROS supaya parti mengadakan pemilihan semula.

-- BERNAMA

'Can Fresh Elections Put An End To The MIC Crisis?', Bernama, 29 January 2015

 

News Focus By Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- While the MIC crisis is escalating and becoming more critical, the fractious attitude of its leaders is putting a brake on efforts to resurrect the party and turn it into a force to be reckoned with in the nation's political arena.

The party is, in fact, in a state of chaos, what with party leaders openly at loggerheads with each other and certain groups dissatisfied with the way the party affairs are being conducted, following the sacking of several Central Working Committee (CWC) members by President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, which has earned the ire of the grassroots.

Due to the absence of concrete solutions to overcome the party's internal turmoil, several party leaders have urged Palanivel to hold fresh elections, as directed by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), to save the 68-year-old party from being deregistered.

MIC TOLD TO COMPLY WITH ROS ORDER

Are re-elections the key to resolving the MIC crisis?

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Social Science Studies senior lecturer Associate Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said if the MIC had complied with the ROS directive dated last Dec 5 to hold re-elections for its three Vice-Presidential and 23 CWC posts within 90 days, the party's crisis would not have prolonged.

He said the MIC leadership should meet top Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders as soon as possible to discuss the crisis and resolve its problems if it wanted to avoid the risk of being deregistered.

Since being slapped with the ROS order, there had been stark inaction by the MIC leadership to institute any action to comply with the directive to hold fresh elections.

According to Sivamurugan, having re-elections would be best recourse to resolving the MIC crisis.

"As soon as new elections are held, all the newly elected leaders should stop politicking and focus their attention on helping the Indian community to develop," he told Bernama.

Former Penang MIC Youth head, J. Dhinagaran, shared Sivamurugan's views, saying that party members were highly enthusiastic about rehabilitating the party.

"If fresh elections had been carried out as per the ROS directive, the matter would have been resolved," he told Bernama.

Dhinagaran was among the CWC members elected for the 2013-2016 term before the election was ruled as invalid by the ROS.

He was also confident that the re-elections would serve to strengthen and consolidate the MIC and enable the newly-elected leaders to carry out their community-upliftment work more effectively.

UNILATERAL APPROACH

The MIC is running out of time. And, Sivamurugan opined that the MIC President's unilateral approach of resolving the party crisis without consulting the top brass has aggravated the turmoil.

"The deputy president, vice-presidents and CWC members don't know what their president is up to because he is not involving them in his efforts to resolve the crisis faced by the party.

"What I can conclude is that the situation had become this serious due to a communication crisis among the leaders," he said.

Dhinagaran, meanwhile, claimed that a third party was complicating the matter by wielding enormous influence over the party president's decisions and actions.

"As the president, he should make decisions on his own without the interference of outsiders. I hope the president makes some decisions quickly for the good of MIC," he added.

Palanivel had in a statement today said that he and his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, would stand-down to resolve the party feud.

"We will have a moratorium. I do not want the party crisis to escalate," Palanivel said in the statement, adding that the moratorium would allow both his and Subramaniam's factions to meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also BN Chairman.

MIC'S DEREGISTRATION WILL HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON BN

In the event the MIC is deregistered by the ROS for failing to comply with its orders, what will the implications be for the BN?

Commenting on this, Sivamurugan said the MIC should have by now learnt a lesson from Umno as the latter had undergone the bitter experience of being deregistered in 1988.

"It's easy to demolish a party but rebuilding it takes years. Umno had gone through that experience and, by right, the MIC should learn from that.

"MIC should not allow itself to be deregistered...because rebuilding the party will require big changes to be made," he said.

BN Deputy Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying today that the BN leadership would help the MIC to resolve its crisis and strengthen the party.

Muhyiddin said if the crisis was left to fester, it would not only affect the party but the BN too.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would meet ROS together with the MIC president and his deputy early next week to seek more clarification on its directive to the party to hold fresh elections.

-- BERNAMA

Program SoalJawab, TV3, 28 Januari 2015

Program SoalJawab, TV3, 28 Januari 2015

'Analysts Disagree With Kit Siang's Claim on Local Polls', New Straits Times, 29 January 2015

'Mengetatkan Hubungan Yang Rapuh', Pena DrSiva, Utusan Malaysia, 27 January 2015

'Perlu Patuh Arahan ROS', Harian Metro, 26 Januari 2015

'Subra Did Not Disobey Palanivel', New Straits Times, 26 January 2015

'PAS Di Landasan Betul Bantah Tindakan DAP', Mingguan Malaysia, 25 Januari 2015

#DAP dan PAS disaran berbincang kerana masing-masing adalah sekutu dalam barisan parti pembangkang berdasarkan kepada faktor demografi dan geografi tanahair. DAP sudah pasti mahu mengadakannya memandangkan ia adalah sebahagian perancangan mereka dan PAS pula sudah pasti tidak mahu dilihat parti lemah dan sering mengalah dalam barisan pembangkang ini.

'News Focus: Improve Enforcement Of Sedition Act To Avert Untoward Incidents, Says Political Analyst', Bernama, 23 January 2015

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Lately certain quarters have been proclaiming that the right to free speech is an absolute right of every human being but little do they realise the havoc such freedom can unleash in a multiracial, multireligious society.

Remarks that sully one's race and religion can stir quite a bit of agitation in a country like Malaysia, with its plural society.

It is for this precise reason of maintaining Malaysia's peace, prosperity and stability that the government had decided to retain the Sedition Act 1948 and also beef it up to protect the nation's interests and security.

Despite the existence of this act, statements that reek of sedition are still being heard loud and clear, much to the chagrin of the people. Are the existing laws, including the Sedition Act 1948, not effective enough to check potential conflicts from flaring up?

Commenting on this, a political analyst said the authorities should continuously carry out more stringent monitoring in their efforts to enhance the enforcement of the Sedition Act 1848 to prevent anything untoward from happening.

Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Social Sciences lecturer Associate Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said this was important as, currently, there were individuals who deliberately created issues, which could trigger racial conflicts and disrupt the nation's multireligious and multiethnic ties, just to gain popularity.

"In beefing up the enforcement of the act, we need the coordination and cooperation of the various parties involved, especially those responsible for nabbing individuals who cross the limits... action must be taken against them quickly and a heavy penalty should be imposed on them.

"A stiffer penalty as well as transparency in the prosecution process will prove that the authorities had taken the right action, and the public will also begin to have confidence in the enforcement agency," he told Bernama.

Echoing his views was Associate Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, Dean of Universiti Utara Malaysia's College of Legal, Government and International Studies, who also called for a more deterrent penalty for offenders, saying that it would also serve as a reminder to the people not to behave indiscriminately.

He said such punitive measures were necessary to prove that the act has enough authority to clamp down on offenders, especially those who attempted to disrupt interracial harmony or questioned Islam or the special privileges and position of the Malays, as provided for in the Federal Constitution.

"Perhaps, a longer jail sentence and heavier fines should be imposed. Only then will people think twice before making uncalled for remarks," he said.

On the assertion that every human being had the right to free speech and could say anything without considering the repercussions on the people and nation, Ahmad Martadha said the freedom of expression should come with certain limitations.

"In the United States and Europe, it's considered as anti-semitism if individuals criticise the Jews, and action will be taken against them.

"Anti-semitism refers to those who criticise and oppose the Jews, and they are ostracised by society. And if they try to resort to using any element of violence, they will be charged with attempting to create chaos," he said, adding that people in any society should be taught the importance of respecting one another's religion and race in order to forge harmony.

What role does society play in empowering the Sedition Act 1948?

Sivamurugan said the people should come together to take collective action to combat the perception that the act was not being utilised in a serious and effective manner.

He said with society's involvement, the various loopholes and shortcomings in the act could be addressed, and there would no longer be any need to keep blaming the authorities.

"Our society has to take the initiative because today, extremism and radicalism are festering. People must come forward to complain because all of us have the responsibility to safeguard the peace and prosperity our nation enjoys.

"Apart from that, the silent majority must also act. Most of the extremists behave the way they do because they know the silent majority will not make any 'noise' against them," he said.

Sivamurugan also felt that the silent majority played a role in boosting the enforcement of the Sedition Act 1948, including not allowing offenders to get away easily.



-- BERNAMA

'Fokus Berita: Pemantauan Ketat Dan Berterusan Bantu Perkukuh Penguatkuasaan Akta Hasutan 1948', Bernama, 23 Januari 2015

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Akhir-akhir ini ada pihak tertentu cenderung menjadikan konsep dan hak kebebasan bersuara sebagai satu hak mutlak, tanpa memikirkan impak kebebasan bersuara itu boleh menimbulkan konflik perkauman dan mencetuskan ketegangan.

Ada sahaja kenyataan berbaur perkauman dan penghinaan agama dilontarkan sehingga mencetuskan keresahan di kalangan rakyat Malaysia, yang terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum dan agama.

Bagi memastikan keamanan dan keharmonian Malaysia dan kestabilan negara, kerajaan memutuskan bukan sahaja untuk mengekalkan Akta Hasutan 1948 malah menambah baik demi melindungi kepentingan dan kesejahteraan seluruh rakyat.

Namun begitu, masih timbul juga kenyataan berbaur hasutan yang meresahkan rakyat. Apakah undang-undang sedia ada termasuk Akta Hasutan 1948 masih kurang berkesan untuk menangani sebarang bentuk konflik yang timbul di negara ini?

Mengupas hal ini, seorang penganalisis politik berpendapat pemantauan lebih ketat, berterusan dan tidak bermusim perlu dilakukan pihak berkuasa dalam usaha memperkasa penguatkuasaan Akta Hasutan 1948, sekali gus menangani sebarang bentuk konflik yang timbul.

Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan di Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berkata ini penting kerana terdapat segelintir individu pada masa ini yang sengaja menjadikan sesuatu isu sehingga menimbulkan konflik perkauman dan mengganggu-gugat nilai keagamaan dan hubungan etnik, demi meraih populariti.

"Dalam usaha memperkasa penguatkuasaan akta ini, kita memerlukan koordinasi dan kerjasama pelbagai pihak terutama pihak berwajib untuk memastikan individu yang bertindak melanggar norma keterbatasan dan keselamatan awam negara dikenakan tindakan segera dan dikenakan hukuman berat.

"Hukuman yang lebih ketat dan disertai dengan pendakwaan telus secara langsung akan membuktikan tindakan pihak berwajib mengenakan hukuman itu wajar, sekali gus memberi keyakinan masyarakat awam terhadap pihak berwajib," katanya kepada Bernama.

Mempunyai pendapat sama, Dekan Kolej Undang-undang, Kerajaan dan Pengajian Antarabangsa Universiti Utara Malaysia Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed berkata dengan mengenakan hukuman yang lebih ketat terhadap individu terlibat, ia mampu memberi peringatan kepada anggota masyarakat agar tidak bertindak sembarangan.

Beliau berkata tindakan tegas itu perlu bagi membuktikan 'kekuatan' akta dan undang-undang melalui hukuman terhadap individu, terutama mereka yang cuba menimbulkan ketegangan kaum, mempersoalkan isu berkaitan agama Islam, hak istimewa orang Melayu serta kedudukan orang Melayu dalam perlembagaan.

"Sekiranya kerajaan serius menangani perkara ini dengan mengenakan hukuman yang lebih berat, ia akan membuatkan masyarakat berfikir dua kali sebelum bertindak atau mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan," katanya.

Mengenai pandangan segelintir individu yang menyifatkan setiap rakyat mempunyai hak dan kebebasan bersuara, Ahmad Martadha berkata kebebasan bersuara wajar mempunyai batasan tertentu.

"Kebebasan bersuara mesti ada had... seperti di Amerika Syarikat dan Eropah, sekiranya ada individu yang mengkritik Yahudi (Jews), mereka akan diambil tindakan sebagai 'anti-semitism'.

"'Anti-semitism' ini maksudnya golongan yang mengkritik dan menentang Jews, mereka akan dipulau oleh masyarakat. Bagi mereka yang cuba mewujudkan unsur-unsur keganasan, mereka akan didakwa cuba menimbulkan rusuhan," katanya, sambil menambah kata bahawa sikap hormat-menghormati antara agama dan bangsa perlu sentiasa disemai demi keharmonian bersama.

Apakah pula peranan masyarakat dalam memperkasa Akta Hasutan 1948?

Sivamurugan berkata rakyat secara keseluruhannya perlu terlibat mengambil tindakan secara kolektif dalam memerangi persepsi bahawa akta tersebut seolah-olah tidak digunakan dengan berkesan.

Katanya dengan penglibatan seluruh anggota masyarakat ia mampu memperbaiki kelonggaran dan kelompongan yang terdapat pada akta berkenaan selain mengelakkan sifat menuding jari, menyalahkan pihak tertentu sahaja.

"Masyarakat sendiri perlu ambil inisiatif kerana pada hari ini nilai ektremism dan radikalisme semakin menular. Mereka perlu tampil melaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa kerana kita semua mempunyai tanggungjawab dan perlu menghargai kemakmuran dan keamanan yang terbina selama ini.

"Di samping itu, kalangan majoriti senyap harus bertindak. Golongan ektremis ini kebanyakannya melakukan tindakan tersebut kerana mereka tahu golongan majoriti ini tidak mahu bersuara," katanya.

Sivamurugan turut berpendapat peranan kumpulan majoriti senyap akan membantu memperkukuh penguatkuasaan Akta Hasutan 1948 termasuk tidak membiarkan mereka yang terlibat terlepas dan bebas begitu sahaja.

-- BERNAMA

'Kumaar Lancar Mogok Lapar', Berita Harian, 23 Januari 2015

'Delay in Solving Party Woes Will Harm BN As Well', New Straits Times, 23 January 2015

'Fresh polls needed to resolve MIC internal crisis', Malaysian Reserve, 19 January 2015

Submitted by Ayu Musa Kamal on Mon, 01/19/2015 - 11:00

Alfian ZM TahirMonday, January 19, 2015

               

The ongoing internal crisis within the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) party can only be resolved by holding an immediate fresh election – a political observer told The Malaysian Reserve.
Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian when contacted said MIC can no longer allow its internal problem to be made public as it would waft away Indians from voting the party in the next general election.
“What is happening in MIC is due to allegation of frauds in its previous party election.
There are some who accept the result but there are also some who refuse to accept the result.
“Registrar of Society (RoS) has demanded MIC to hold a party election and that is the best way of solution for MIC. They should have an immediate party election to solve the crisis," Sivamurugan, who is the professor at School of Social Sciences in University Sains Malaysia (USM) said.
He said MIC cannot delay the party election as it would only cause more harm than good, pointing out the delay would also demotivate members and supporters and lead them to look at 'other alternatives.'
Referring to DAP as an example, Sivamurugan said MIC should learn from DAP’s case in conducting a fresh party election when it was hit with crisis in its Central Executive Committee (CEC) election in 2013.
The political analyst added the crisis in MIC will also tarnish Barisan Nasional’s image as a whole party component.
“MIC cannot let this problem to continue because it will also have an effect on BN. BN’s supporters out there will question MIC’s political legitimacy.
“It should stop immediately and they should learn from DAP on how they resolve their crisis.
They hold a fresh party election,” he added.
Asked if BN should interfere and help MIC in their internal impasse, Sivamurugan said there is no need for BN to intervene, reiterating that MIC should just carry on with its fresh party election as soon as possible.
“I don’t think BN should come in. MIC with its leadership should be able to deal with this matter without BN’s help.
“There is nothing else can MIC can do now accept hold a party election soon,” Sivamurugan said.
It was previously reported that MIC saga started when RoS discovered discrepancies in the party polls and ordered it to hold fresh elections for the three vice president post and Central Working Committee.
Former CWC member, Datuk R Ramanan later accused MIC president’s wife Datin Seri P Kanagam of running the party with her husband G Palanivel acting only as a puppet.
Ramanan backed his allegations by claiming Palanivel had some kind of sickness that caused him to forget things including important decisions before lambasting the president’s inability to win back the Teluk Kemang and Sungai Siput seats in the last general election because of his contradicting statements and last minute decision making.
Yesterday Bernama reported that two former MIC leaders had accused the ethnic Indian party of fraud in setting up of branches at eight divisions during the party election in 2013.
Former treasurer general Datuk R Ramanan and former Youth Chief Senator Datuk S A Vigneswaran submitted evidence to RoS to facilitate investigations into alleged
irregularities in that party election.
Talking to reporters at the RoS office, Vigneswaran said the eight divisions were Sepang, Subang, Hulu Selangor, Petaling Jaya Selatan, Seremban, Kuala Langat and Serdang.
Meanwhile the party president had asked all those involved to stop attacking family members, a view which was echoed by his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.
Palanivel has since remained silent over the plans to hold fresh elections and members are restless and concerned that the party is heading towards de-registration.

'Bertindak Pantas, Keras', Utusan Malaysia, 20 Januari 2015

'Krisis MIC Perlu Ditangani Segera', Berita Minggu, 18 Januari 2015

'MIC Told To Resolve Crisis Quickly And Move On', Bernama, 17 January 2015

 

By S. Kisho Kumari

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- The MIC does not really have all that much time left to sort out its issues and resolve the internal crisis that has brought the party on the brink of deregistration.

Ever since last Dec 5, when the Registrar of Societies (ROS) ordered the MIC to hold fresh elections for its three vice-presidential and 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) posts within 90 days or face deregistration, not much has been done to resolve the various outstanding issues.

Political observers and party insiders are anticipating a massive uphill struggle for Malaysia's largest Indian-based party to stay relevant in the community if it does not take immediate steps to set things right.

Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, political analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia's Faculty of Social Science, opined that this was the right time for the MIC leaders to close ranks and move forward to prove that the party still has the ability to serve the Indian community.

REINVIGORATE THE PARTY FAST

"For me, I see it as a chance for the party to revive itself... in fact to strengthen itself and bring about unity so that the people can see that the MIC is capable of bouncing back fast," he told Bernama recently.

After having met the ROS' requirement, he said, the party could embark on planning for the future, and even work on creating a new wave of leadership and new a branding, following which it could focus on the actual struggle of the party.

The ROS had issued the re-election order following complaints of abuse of power and misconduct at the party elections in November 2013, which violated the party constitution and the Societies Act 1966.

The ROS had also on Dec 5 directed the party to hold fresh elections in eight divisions, namely Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Bandar Baru Kulim, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin within 60 days.

It also ordered fresh polls to be held within 30 days for the Batu Kawan division deputy chairman, Kota Raja division chairman, Tanjung Malim division chairman and Taman Koperasi Polis branch chairman posts.

Two branches, Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan, were also ordered to hold fresh polls within 30 days.

However, on Jan 6, the party CWC obtained an extension of time from the ROS to conduct the re-election at the Merlimau Utara branch but the period of extension was not stated.

On the ROS order to the MIC to hold fresh polls, Sivamurugan said if the party did not agree with it, then it should waste no time in challenging the order in court.

"If it intends to follow the directive, it should take immediate steps to hold fresh polls to prevent members and observers from having a negative perception of the party," he said.

Following the order from the ROS, party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had established a special joint committee comprising Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, five of the complainants who had reported irregularities in the earlier party polls to the ROS, and five other members.

Sivamurugan said the MIC should act immediately as it had already formed a committee to look into the outstanding issues.

"The DAP had also previously been issued with an order by the ROS to conduct fresh elections and the party obliged immediately as it knew that if the re-election was delayed, the party's future could be jeopardised," he pointed out.

LET THE GRASSROOTS DECIDE

Former MIC secretary-general and deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker D.P. Vijandran said the MIC was in grave danger if it failed to resolve its internal crisis and return the power to the grassroots.

He also cautioned that even if the MIC could solve the party polls issue, the leaders should realise that whilst they were busy focusing on the internal squabbles, the support from the people had literally faded.

Describing the party's structural problem as one the factors that had caused the party to be thrown into disarray, he said: "It is all about who wants to be a king (a position).

"I am not saying everyone does that but most of them do... they are so into finding the crown that they don't realise they had lost their kingdom," he said.

Citing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's call for all Indian political parties to unite and work together, Vijandran said the Indians were speaking in too many voices, resulting in them going in various directions without taking a clear united stand.

"All of them should unite and focus on how to win support from the people. The leaders should not be so engrossed with their positions that they can't see that they have lost the (support of the) Indian community," he said.

-- BERNAMA

'MIC Perlu Selesaikan Krisis Segera', Bernama, 17 Januari 2015

 

Oleh S. Kisho Kumari

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- MIC tidak mempunyai banyak masa lagi untuk menyelesaikan apa juga isu yang timbul serta menyelesaikan krisis dalaman yang menyebabkan parti itu berada di ambang pembatalan penubuhannya.

Sejak 5 Dis lepas, apabila Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS) mengarahkan MIC untuk mengadakan pemilihan baharu bagi tiga jawatan naib presiden dan 23 jawatan Anggota Jawatankuasa Kerja (CWC) dalam tempoh 90 hari atau berhadapan risiko dibatalkan pendaftaran, tidak banyak yang dilakukan untuk menyelesaikan pelbagai isu tertangguh.

Pemerhati politik dan kepimpinan dalaman parti menjangkakan parti kaum India yang terbesar di Malaysia itu akan berhadapan dengan cabaran besar untuk kekal relevan dalam masyarakat jika ia tidak mengambil langkah segera untuk memperbetulkan keadaan.

Profesor Madya Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, yang juga penganalisis politik di Fakulti Sains Sosial, Universiti Sains Malaysia berpendapat bahawa ini adalah masa yang sesuai bagi pemimpin MIC merapatkan barisan dan bergerak ke hadapan, sekali gus membuktikan bahawa parti itu masih mempunyai keupayaan untuk berkhidmat kepada masyarakat India.

MENCERGASKAN SEMULA PARTI

"Secara peribadi, saya melihat ia sebagai satu peluang untuk parti memulihkan keadaan... hakikatnya untuk mengukuhkan organisasi dan mewujudkan perpaduan supaya rakyat dapat melihat bahawa MIC mampu bingkas bangkit kembali," katanya kepada Bernama baru-baru ini.

Setelah memenuhi syarat-syarat ROS, beliau berkata parti itu boleh mula merancang untuk masa depan, malah berfungsi untuk mewujudkan gelombang baharu kepimpinan dan penjenamaan baharu, yang mana selepas itu ia boleh memberi tumpuan kepada perjuangan sebenar parti.

ROS telah mengeluarkan perintah pemilihan semula berikutan aduan penyalahgunaan kuasa dan salah laku pemilihan parti pada November 2013, yang melanggar perlembagaan parti dan Akta Pertubuhan 1966.

Pada 5 Dis, ROS turut mengarahkan parti mengadakan pemilihan baharu di lapan bahagian iaitu Bayan Baru; Bukit Gelugor; Subang; Bandar Baru Kulim; Taiping; Tambun; Sepang dan Jasin dalam tempoh 60 hari.

Ia juga memerintahkan pemilihan baharu diadakan dalam tempoh 30 hari bagi jawatan timbalan pengerusi Batu Kawan; pengerusi bahagian Kota Raja; pengerusi bahagian Tanjung Malim; dan pengerusi cawangan Taman Koperasi Polis.

Dua cawangan iaitu Merlimau Utara dan Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan, juga diperintahkan untuk mengadakan pemilihan baharu dalam tempoh 30 hari.

Walau bagaimanapun, pada 6 Jan, CWC parti memperoleh lanjutan masa daripada ROS untuk melaksanakan pemilihan semula di cawangan Merlimau Utara tetapi tempoh lanjutannya tidak dinyatakan.

Berhubung perintah ROS yang mengarahkan MIC mengadakan pemilihan baharu, Sivamurugan berkata jika kepimpinan parti tidak bersetuju dengannya, maka ia tidak perlu membuang masa dan sebaliknya mencabar perintah berkenaan di mahkamah.

"Jika ia bercadang untuk mematuhi arahan berkenaan, ia perlu mengambil langkah segera untuk mengadakan pemilihan baharu bagi mengelakkan anggota dan pemerhati daripada mempunyai persepsi negatif terhadap parti," katanya.

Berikutan perintah ROS, presiden parti Datuk Seri G. Palanivel telah menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa khas bersama antara Palanivel dan timbalannya Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, lima daripada pengadu yang telah melaporkan penyelewengan dalam pemilihan parti kepada ROS, dan lima anggota lain.

Sivamurugan berkata MIC perlu bertindak segera kerana ia telah membentuk sebuah jawatankuasa untuk mengkaji isu-isu tertunggak.

"DAP juga sebelum ini telah menerima suatu perintah daripada ROS yang mengarahkannya melakukan pemilihan semula dan parti ini segera mematuhinya kerana mereka tahu bahawa jika pemilihan semula ditangguhkan, masa depan parti itu boleh terjejas," katanya.

SERAHKAN KEPADA PERINGKAT AKAR UMBI

Bekas Setiausaha Agung MIC dan Timbalan Speaker Dewan Rakyat D.P. Vijandran berkata MIC berhadapan risiko besar jika ia gagal menyelesaikan krisis dalamannya dan mengembalikan kuasa kepada anggota parti.

Beliau juga mengingatkan walaupun MIC boleh menyelesaikan isu pemilihan parti, para pemimpinnya perlu sedar bahawa sementara mereka sibuk memberi tumpuan kepada masalah dalaman parti, sokongan daripada rakyat sebenarnya sudah pudar.

Menyifatkan masalah struktur parti itu sebagai satu daripada faktor yang menyebabkan parti itu berada dalam kancah pergolakan, beliau berkata: "Semua ini adalah tentang siapa yang mahu menjadi raja (memegang jawatan).

"Saya tidak menyatakan bahawa semua orang melakukannya tetapi kebanyakan mereka berbuat demikian... mereka begitu beria-ia mencari kedudukan tanpa menyedari mereka sebenarnya telah kehilangan kekuasaan mereka," katanya.

Memetik saranan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak kepada untuk semua parti-parti politik kaum India supaya bersatu dan bekerja bersama-sama, Vijandran berkata orang India mempunyai terlalu banyak suara, sehingga menyebabkan mereka berpecah ke pelbagai arah tanpa kesepaduan untuk mengambil pendirian yang jelas.

"Kesemua mereka perlu bersatu dan memberi tumpuan kepada bagaimana untuk memenangi sokongan daripada rakyat. Para pemimpin tidak perlu asyik dengan kedudukan mereka sehingga mereka tidak dapat melihat bahawa mereka telah kehilangan (sokongan) masyarakat India," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

'Arahan Baharu Penggunaan Ibu Pejabat MIC Terima Pelbagai Reaksi', Bernama, 12 Januari 2015

 

PUTRAJAYA, 12 Jan (Bernama) -- Arahan baharu, yang dikeluarkan MIC dan dilaksanakan dengan serta merta di ibu pejabatnya, mendapat pelbagai reaksi daripada pemimpin parti dan penganalisis politik.

Ketua Pemuda MIC C.Sivarraajh berkata langkah menghalang sesetengah pemimpin parti daripada mengadakan sidang akhbar di bangunan itu adalah tidak adil, tidak demokratik dan bersifat rosot kembali.

Sambil menyifatkan keputusan itu sebagai tidak relevan, beliau berkata ia boleh mengundang lebih banyak bantahan daripada angota parti.

"Mereka yang dihalang terdiri daripada anggota MIC sendiri, termasuk peyandang jawatan penting dan para pemimpin ini diiktiraf Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS) seperti Ketua Pemuda dan Ketua Wanita.

"Ini berbeza dengan Setiausaha Agung (Datuk G. Kumaar Aaman), yang jawatannya tidak diiktiraf ROS yang mengeluarkan arahan agar pemilihan semula diadakan bagi jawatan anggota Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat (CWC) dan tiga naib presiden," katanya kepada Bernama hari ini.

Di samping itu, kata, Sivarraajh, sayap Pemuda dan Wanita serta pemimpin mereka, berbeza dengan CWC, diiktiraf ROS dan menghalang mereka daripada menggunakan ibu pejabat parti untuk mengadakan sidang akhbar samalah seperti menutup pintu kepada mereka.

Semalam, Kumaar Aamaan memperkenalkan perubahan yang dilaksanakan dengan serta merta di ibu pejabat MIC, termasuk hanya membenarkan pucuk pimpinan pusat parti mengadakan sidang akhbar rasmi di situ.

Mereka ialah presiden, timbalan presiden, naib presiden, setiausaha agung dan bendahari agung.

Sivarraajh mendakwa jawatan setiausaha agung baharu parti itu, yang mengeluarkan arahan "tutup mulut", adalah tidak sah kerana ROS mengisytiharkan pemilihan mereka sebagi tidak sah dan terbatal, serta mengarahkan MIC mengadakan pemilihan semula.

"Ketika presiden ingin mengamalkan demokrasi lebih meluas dan mengadakan pemilihan di semua peringkat parti, setiausaha agung baharu yang tidak sah pula menggunakan langkah autoritarian untuk menghalang pegawai yang dipilih," katanya.

Ketika menyuarakan sentimen serupa, bekas pengarah strategi MIC Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari meminta Kumaar Aaman berhenti daripada mengeluarkan kenyataan sebagai setiausaha agung parti itu kerana mendakwa pelantikannya "tidak mengikut undang-undang".

"Sebarang perkara dasar yang mempunyai kaitan dengan hak anggota MIC perlulah diputuskan dalam mesyuarat agung tergempar, bukan dibuat dengan sesuka hati Datuk Kumaar.

Saya tidak ada hak untuk mencampuri sebarang kenyataan yang dibuat atas kedudukan peribadinya, tetapi sekiranya beliau terus berbuat demikian sebagai penyandang jawatan dalam MIC, saya akan gunakan saluran undang-undang kerana tindakan beliau itu boleh menjejaskan parti," katanya.

Bagaimanapun, Pengerusi MIC Cawangan Kuala Ketil Datuk S.Subramaniam mengucapkan syabas kepada Kumaar Aaman kerana membuat keputusan tepat bagi memastikan hanya mereka yang 'ikhlas' dibenarkan memasuki bangunan MIC.

"Ini bukan masa untuk menjerit siapa yang betul dan siapa yang salah. Parti kita lebih utama. Saya harap lebih banyak perubahan inovatif dilakukan demi kebaikan parti dan masyarakat kami," katanya kepada Bernama hari ini.

Pensyarah Kanan Sekolah Sains Sosial Universiti Sains Malaysia Prof Madya Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berkata Palanivel perlu menyelesaikan isu pelantikan setiausaha agung parti itu agar sebarang kenyataan yang dikeluarkannya tidak lagi dipersoalkan bagi mengelak berlaku pergeseran lebih teruk dalam parti itu.

"Sekiranya pelantikan itu tidak sah, maka mungkin semua kenyataan perlu hanya datang sama ada daripada presiden atau timbalan presiden bagi mengendurkan ketegangan antara kumpulan," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

'Mixed Reaction To MIC's New Measures At HQ', Bernama, 12 January 2015

 

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- MIC's immediate changes which are being implemented at the party headquarters have received mixed reaction from its leaders and a political analyst.

MIC Youth chief C.Sivarraajh said the move by the party to stop some leaders from holding press conferences in the building was unfair, undemocratic and regressive.

Describing the decision as irrelevant, he said this could lead to more protests from MIC members.

"Those who have been shut out are members of the MIC, including key office- bearers and these leaders are recognised by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) like the Youth and Wanita chiefs.

"This is unlike the secretary-general (Datuk G. Kumaar Aaman) whose post is not recognised by ROS which has ordered re-election for the CWC and three vice-president posts," he told Bernama today.

Besides that, Sivarraajh said, the Youth and Wanita wings and their leaders, unlike the CWC, were recognised by ROS and barring them from using the party headquarters as a place for press conferences, would be like shutting the door on them.

Yesterday, Kumaar Aamaan introduced immediate changes that are being implemented at the MIC headquarters that will, among others, see only the party's national leaders allowed to hold official press conferences there.

These leaders are the MIC president, deputy president and vice-presidents, as well as secretary-general and treasurer-general.

Sivarraajh claimed that the post of the new "secretary-general" who was issuing the gag orders, was invalid since ROS had declared their election as null and void, and had ordered the party to hold re-election.

"At the same time, the president wants to practise greater democratisation and to hold election at all levels of the party, while the new 'invalid secretary-general' is resorting to authoritarian measures to shut out elected officials," he said.

Echoing similar sentiment, former MIC strategic director Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari has asked Kumaar Aaman to stop issuing statements as party secretary-general, claiming that the latter's appointment was "unlawful".

"Any policy matter that relates to the rights of MIC members must be decided at an emergency general meeting (EGM), not at the whim and fancy of Datuk Kumaar.

"I have no right to interfere in any statement made in his personal capacity, but if he continues to do so as an MIC office-bearer, then I will seek legal redress for acting to the detriment of the party," he said.

However, MIC Kuala Ketil branch chairman Datuk S.Subramaniam congratulated Kumaar Aaman for making the right decision to ensure that only bona fide persons could enter the MIC building.

"This is not the time to cry out who is right and who is wrong. Our party is supreme. I look forward to more innovative changes to bring betterment to the party and our community," he told Bernama today.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Social Sciences senior lecturer, Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said Palanivel must clear the air on the secretary-general's appointment, so that whatever statements issued would not be questioned to avoid further friction within the party.

"If the appointment is invalid, then perhaps any statement should only come from either the president or deputy president to ease tension between the factions," he said.

-- BERNAMA