Malaysian Indian Congress leader says former deputy will face disciplinary action for his 'stolen votes' remark

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 9 (ANI): Malaysian Indian Congress President S. Samy Vellu has said that party will take disciplinary action against former deputy president S. Subramaniam for making a derogatory remark against the MIC on the "stolen votes" issue.

He said the party's central working committee (CWC) decided to issue a show-cause notice to Subramaniam, asking him to explain his statement in a newspaper, saying that the MIC overlooked vote-rigging.

"We will send him the letter after the party polls on Saturday. We will also take action against Datuk V. Govindaraj, Subramaniam and the newspaper for their baseless allegations," the Star Online quoted him, as saying.

Govindaraj had claimed that he "pocketed" 30 votes meant for Subramaniam in the contest against Samy Vellu for the deputy president's post in 1977.

This time, Subramaniam is in a three-way fight with incumbent G. Palanivel and vice-president S. Sothinathan for the number two post.

Samy Vellu said there were 1,080 delegates to the 1977 assembly, with him getting 553 votes and Subramaniam getting 527 votes.

"There were many people in the counting room. Subramaniam, who was the blue-eyed boy of then-president V. Manickavasagam, was also in the room.

"I am baffled as to how, with so many people, this dirty tactic could have been used," he said.

Replying to whether Subramaniam could be sacked from the party, Samy Vellu said the disciplinary committee would make the decision.

On the progress of support for his endorsed team, Samy Vellu said he was confident his team would be declared winners on Saturday. (ANI)