Squabble over 'exodus' of Penang MIC members

A war of words has erupted between current and former leaders in Penang MIC over last week’s claimed exodus of Bayan Baru division members to rival party PKR.

At a press conference this afternoon, state MIC legal advisor N Ahilan questioned the authenticity of PKR’s claim that some 5,000 people, including 3, 500 from Bayan Baru MIC, had joined the opposition party.

He denied that Bayan Baru MIC had lost members, saying he suspects that sacked division chairperson M Nganasegaran may have obtained particulars from the electoral roll and “planted their names without their knowledge” in PKR membership application forms.

Ahilan challenged PKR and Nganasegaran to substantiate their claim, especially since the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government espouses competency, accountability and transparency.

“We challenge both to publicly display the forms submitted by these members to prove the claim,” he said.

Only one branch chief from Bayan Baru division was at the press conference - Sungai Dua leader K. Arumugam. Others present, including Ahilan, are from the Bukit Gelugor division.

In an immediate response, an angry Nganasegaran, the former state MIC assistant secretary, took a swipe at Ahilan for not getting his facts right.

He said eight branches were closed in Bayan Baru as a result of the crossover, each with 100 to 500 paid-up members. His now-defunct branch, Sungai Nobong Kechil, had some 400 members.

“Anyway who is Ahilan to raise this question when other senior state MIC leaders have kept silent?” asked Nganasegaran.

He accused Ahilan of trying to gain political mileage to enhance his chances of taking over as state MIC assistant secretary.

Decision Based On 'Current Realities'

Nganasegaran explained that he had switched to PKR because of current realities, as people want multi-racial rather than mono-ethnic representation in politics.

He laughed off Ahilan’s challenge to prove the claim, saying the latter should “show more political maturity when issuing statements”.

“Which political party has ever revealed its membership (details) to rival parties?” he asked.

Nganasegaran had been sacked by party president S Samy Vellu (left) on Oct 8 for allegedly “working against party interests by cooperating with opposition parties during the March general election”.

He, however, described Samy Vellu’s decision as arbitrary and a “verdict by a hanging judge in a kangaroo court”.

After the closure of the Bayan Baru branches, the state MIC now has 181 branches with some 25,000 members. Five of these are in Bayan Baru, with some 700 members.

State MIC chief Dr K Rajapathy, who has taken charge as acting divisional chairperson, will appoint a pro-tem committee to lead Bayan Baru until the division elections next March.

He plans to carry out several activities soon to revive the flagging division, boost its membership and restore its relevance to Bayan Baru people.