"The party president was merely exercising his right to speak out and those who are unhappy with his statements should keep quiet. It is up to Zambry to welcome or reject Palanivel's statement," Subramaniam said
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) here has called for Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel to sit down and settle the spat between them.
Persatuan Warga Prihatin Perak chairman V. Subramaniam said nothing would be solved by both parties issuing statements through the media.
He also said individuals or groups that were unhappy with Palanivel's statements should stay out of the matter.
"The party president was merely exercising his right to speak out and those who are unhappy with his statements should keep quiet.
"It is up to Zambry to welcome or reject Palanivel's statement," he said.
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Speaking at a press conference here today, Subramaniam said Palanivel, as an elected president of MIC, had the right to speak up as MIC had been around since Merdeka days.
"Please respect Palanivel as the party president," he urged.
He said rather than criticising Palanivel, they should look into problems faced by the Indian community like citizenship and social problems.
"That will be more meaningful than to openly fight for positions," he noted.
Subramaniam also ticked off Batu Gajah member of parliament V. Sivakumar for his condescending statement against Palanivel which accused the Cameron Highlands member of parliament of begging for positions.
"I would like to remind the esteemed MP that he got his Speaker position when Pakatan Rakyat was in power after a DAP Indian leader threatened to resign from the party," he said.
Subramaniam's statements came in the heels of statement by Palanivel who was reported to have threatened to reject all government posts in Perak if the state government refused to award the speaker's post to one of its party leaders.
He had said MIC would reject its appointments to the posts of special officer and adviser to the menteri besar.
His statement had received brickbats from Perak Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib, who said it was unbecoming of Palanivel, as president of a BN component party, to issue such a threat.
