MIED controversy has MIC in a tizzy
By Baradan Kuppusamy, The Malaysian Insider
The MIC has been in overdrive with leaders taking positions ever since party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu claimed last week that the MIED, long considered its education arm, was not part of the party.
Samy Vellu had said he plans to set up and head a foundation and move the MIED and the educational institutions it owns – principally the RM1 billion AIMST University – along with other NGOs like YSS and YPS, into it.
He plans to take these away when he retires, sparking a furore in the party.
His arch rival Datuk S. Subramaniam has called Samy Vellu’s claim that MIC and MIED were not linked a “blatant lie” and described the move as a “hijacking” of MIC assets.
He has vowed to fight Samy Vellu to the bitter end.
Most MIC leaders are aghast at the plan and have privately slammed his proposed move, while some Youth wing leaders are trying to justify it.
Deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel has given a “neither here nor there” statement in a posting on his blog.
Palanivel says MIED is a separate entity unlike what Subramaniam maintains, which is that MIED is integral to the party.
“(MIED) will serve the community for the long haul although it is a separate entity,” party deputy president G Palanivel said in his posting.
He said he met Samy Vellu in Bagan Pinang and asked him about the “MIED matter” and that Samy Vellu gave him an explanation.
Palanivel did not reveal what Samy Vellu said to him but he noted that MIED was a “child” of the MIC. It was born in the MIC with Samy Vellu as the founder.
He says all the trustees and “most of the board members” are all MIC leaders.
“Therefore, it is a well-placed organisation, structured to serve the community for the long haul,” Palanivel said without taking a clear stand on the emotive issue.
