MIC nominations conclude nationwide with 75% turnout

PETALING JAYA: MIC nominations nationwide concluded today with an average turnout of 75% branches and minor hiccups reported, acting party president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said.
He said the nomination process at the branches went "maturedly well" with only minor issues at the Kedah and Penang branches despite the party's factional problem.
He noted that a total of 3,195 branches out of 3,978 completed their nominations without any major issues while 785 branches could not file nominations for various reasons.
Expressing gratitude to the majority of MIC branches which filed nominations today, Subramaniam said the party will only accept nominations that are registered with it.
Asked about the nominations that took place under his rival faction Datuk Seri G Palanivel on July 9, he said that nominations would "not be recognised".
"We only take into account legal nominations. There is only one legal party. They (Palanivel faction's nominations) are illegal," Subramaniam told a press conference at the Kelana Jaya MIC branch office here today.
It was reported that Palanivel's strong supporter, secretary-general Datuk S. Sothinathan, said that 2,241 of some 3,400 MIC branches took part in the July 9 nominations.
Subramaniam said from the turnout of nominations today, he was glad that a majority of the branch leaders want the party to move forward.
"This is an achievement for the party to be, as it shows that the majority of the MIC branches are united and working in tandem with the current leadership of the party.
"Branches are the basis of presidential elections. We are glad that a lot of branch leaders overcame the problems to go through this process," he said.
Subramaniam also said that members with any objections or complaints on the nominations filed, could bring their grouses to the headquarters with relevant documents to the party headquarters from tomorrow.
Also present at the press conference were party vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan and its former strategic director Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari.