MIC members who are appointed to the central working committee (CWC) need not be given detailed explanation if they are dropped from their position, the party’s information chief R. Thinalan said. 

He was referring to former Cameron Highlands lawmaker Sivarraajh Chandran who said he was not given any reason on why he was dismissed from the CWC.

“Sivarraajh was appointed a CWC member (in 2021) and no reason was given on his appointment as it was the prerogative of the party president.

“Thus, the same should apply when the president makes a decision to remove him from the post that was given. There is no formal need for an explanation or reason,” Thinalan said. 

Yesterday, it was reported that Sivarraajh was removed from the CWC effective June 10.  

A source close to Sivarrajh said no reason was given for his termination but it was reported that he was sacked from the CWC because he did not attend the “Madani Government: Educational Development and Future of Indians” programme held in Shah Alam last Saturday.

MIC secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran also confirmed with The Malaysian Insight yesterday that Sivarraajh was neither sacked nor terminated but was just removed from the position by the party president S.A. Vigneswaran. 

He also said Sivarraajh, as a senator, could still attend CWC meetings.

“We have (other) senators who are in attendance in the CWC although they are not appointed members of the committee. This is not something new.

“Since he has now been appointed a senator, he can also attend CWC meetings while we can appoint another person to that vacant post in the CWC,” he added. 

Image issue 

Meanwhile, Sivarraajh, who was appointed to the Senate in March this year, was later reported by Free Malaysia Today as saying that MIC is at present battling an “image issue”. 

Thinalan slammed the former MIC vice-president for making the remark, saying the latter should have declined all the opportunities given to him by the Indian-based party if there had been an image issue. 

“If MIC indeed has an image issue, why did Sivarraajh accept all the positions and opportunities provided to him by MIC, which includes the senatorship, becoming a member of Mitra’s steering committee, and opportunities to stand as a party candidate in Buntong, Cameron Highlands and Padang Serai?

“And even after losing the vice-presidency, he was appointed a member of the CWC. If Sivarraajh believed that MIC had an image issue since then, he should have declined all these opportunities and helped the party rebuild its image.

“Or did he just realise MIC has an image issue after he was removed from the CWC?” Thinalan asked.

Thinalan said many in MIC, from the grassroots to the top leadership, have dedicated themselves to the party and community even without holding any positions. 

He said they are working hard to garner the support and trust of the community. – June 14, 2023.