‘Nothing wrong in Sunther’s CWC appointment’

Several MIC leaders say that Sunther's appointment to the party's central working committee is perfectly legal, contrary to claims made by others.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC secretary-general A Sakthivel today brushed aside allegations that S Sunther’s appointment as a central working committee (CWC) member recently runs ultra vires to the party constitution.

“The appointment is in line with the MIC constitution. The party president wields the power to appoint a CWC member regardless of the requirements,” he said.

Yesterday, a party veteran alleged that the appointment of Sunther as a CWC member was illegal as the latter was not a delegate in his division.

The veteran, who claimed anonymity, cited Article 59.3 of the MIC constitution to back his claims, saying that only a member who is a delegate to the general assembly shall be eligible to stand as a candidate for the post of deputy president, vice-presidents or to be elected as CWC members.

However, Sakthivel shot down the argument, saying that the so called qualification was only meant for elected CWC representative, not the appointed ones.

“The Article 59.3 applies to those who wants to be elected CWC members. The appointed posts in the CWC is the prerogative of the party president,” he said.

Sakthivel backed his argument by using Article 46.5 of the party constitution, which gives the MIC president discretionary powers to appoint CWC members.

“So there is nothing illegal about Sunther’s appointment,” he said, adding that Sunther was also eligible to contest for a CWC post in the party election scheduled for end of the year.

Get your facts straight

MIC CWC member KP Samy echoed Sakthivel’s assessment and urged the anonymous party veteran to get his facts right.

“Don’t jump the gun when you don’t have your facts right. That is just disrespecting Palanivel.

“I believe the “attack” on Sunther is really a plot against the party president,” said Samy.

Another party leader, SA Vigneswaran also agreed to Samy’s argument and defended Sunther’s appointment to the CWC.

“This is a normal process for the appointed CWC members. There is nothing wrong about it.

“For the president to appoint someone as a CWC member, he or she only has to be a branch chairman,” said the Vigneswaran, who was the former MIC Youth leader.

Lask week, Palanivel dropped S Vell Paari and J Usha Nandhini from the CWC and replaced the duo with former party vice president S Sothinathan and Sunther.

Sunther is the son of former MIC deputy president, S Subramaniam. The latter is now incapacitated due to a head injury he suffered last year.

Observers have speculated that Palanivel is attempting to strengthen his position in the party to take on his deputy, Dr S Subramaniam who is said to eyeing for the top post.