Najib brokers peace deal for strife-torn MIC

Palanivel confirmed that the president and deputy president posts would be unopposed. (left).
Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said he will abide by the PM's request. (right)

There will be no contest for the top two MIC posts after the contenders agreed to a peace deal which party sources claim was brokered by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself.

The source revealed that Najib had met party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and vice-presidents Datuk M. Saravanan and Datuk S.K. Devamany at his residence in Putrajaya on Sunday.

Najib was said to have advised them to concentrate on strengthening the party and avoid a contest which could result in “open warfare” in the party.

The source said the posts of party president and deputy president would not be contested this year.

The presidential election is scheduled for September 22 and the election for other national office bearers — deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 Central Working Committee members — is to be in November.


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MIC to convene emergency CWC meeting on June 18, says Palanivel

MIC has convened an emergency Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting to discuss issues related to branch, division, presidential and national elections, president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said here.

In a statement, he said the meeting has been scheduled for June 18 at the MIC headquarters.

The meeting was called following a request by MIC strategic director S.Vell Paari to secretary-general A.Saktivel to convene the meeting to discuss the issue of party polls.

In a letter to Saktivel, he said he had the support of one-third of the 38 CWC members as required under the party constitution to call for an emergency meeting.

"I have asked for the CWC meeting not with any personal agenda but with an urgent need to save the party from getting entangled in a legal mess," he said.

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Dr Subra denies plan to challenge Palanivel in party election

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam(wear glasses) has denied making any decision to challenge the top post in the coming party election.

He said Bernama's speculating article last Monday was only the views of the writer without any authentication.

"The writer of the article should have consulted and got my views before writing an article with far-reaching implications.



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Subra set to launch bid to depose Palanivel

After a “contest-free” 20 years or so for the coveted post of president in the MIC, incumbent party chief Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is expected to face a tough challenge in the defence of his position at the party’s presidential polls to be called in about eight to nine months.

The last time the 67-year-old party had a presidential contest was in 1993, when the then MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was challenged by S. Subramaniam, better known as Jumbo Maniam. Samy Vellu won the contest.

A prominent MIC veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity said the current deputy president, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, seems to be planning to mount a serious challenge for the post.


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'Don't drag me into your war,' says Samy Vellu

Former MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu has cautioned aspiring candidates in the forthcoming MIC elections not to drag him into their political battle.

"I will make my choice of who should lead the party at the right time. Don't drag me into your war," he said in response to a Bernama report.

The report quoted MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam as saying that Samy Vellu had given him the green light to take on Datuk Seri G.Palanivel for the MIC president's post in the elections scheduled next year.

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Grace period to make EPF withdrawals

Minimum Retirement Age Bill 2012 is passed.

"However, we will allow a grace period to enable members to make adjustments as to when they prefer to withdraw their funds," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

This means that employees do not have to wait till 60 to withdraw their funds, as they can do it at 55, pending the announcement of the grace period.

Bill tabled for private sector minimum retirement age of 60

Subramaniam tabled the Minimum Retirement Age Bill in Parliament today.

Putrajaya proposed today to make 60 years the earliest retirement age for the private sector, in another concession to workers following the recent wage floor and revival of studies into unemployment benefits.

The Minimum Retirement Age Bill, tabled by Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, also supersedes any previous retirement age agreed to between employers and employees if passed into law.

“Any retirement age in a contract of service or collective agreement made before, on or after the date of coming into operation of this Act which is less than the minimum retirement age provided... shall be deemed void and substituted with the minimum retirement age provided under this Act,” reads Section 7 of the Bill.

However, the Bill allows for an employee to opt for early retirement if such a clause exists in the employment contract.

Subramaniam in stable condition after brain surgery

Former MIC deputy president Datuk S Subramaniam is reported to be in stable condition after undergoing five hours of brain surgery which lasted until 2am today.

R Balakrishnan, his former secretary and close friend, said the doctors managed to stop the bleeding in his brain and draw out blood from his thrombus.

"Overall, his blood pressure, heart and pulse are stable," he told Bernama when contacted here today.

Changes in retirement age for the private sector to follow

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam says the retirement age for the private sector should follow suit as the life expectancy has extended with the advancement of medical science.

Ministry to study unions move - Protection for foreign workers welcomed, says minister

SUBRAMANIAM: Government will protect rights of workers

The Human Resources Ministry will study a proposal by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) to allow foreign workers from all sectors to join labour unions.

Its minister, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, said the ministry welcomed any move to unionise foreign workers.

"Only certain employers did not allow their foreign workforce to do so. Currently, there are some 10,000 foreigners in the plantation sector who are members of the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW)," he said after a meeting with representatives from NUPW and MTUC at the Parliament building yesterday.

"Perhaps after this, we can extend it to other sectors. We are not against this as it is also an effort to take care of the welfare of the workers."

Subra: Amendments to protect workers

In response to the MTUC picket outside Parliament today, Human Resource Minister, Dr. S. Subramaniam denies that the proposed amendments to the Employment Act will liberalise rules for employing workers.

On the contrary he said the amendments will ensure that workers employed by labour contractors will have their rights better protected.

Currently workers employed by contractors in small privately owned plantations for instance are at the mercy of these contractor

Paperless Malaysians flock to get their ICs

Thousands flocked to the National Regis­tration Department (NRD) offices in several states to fulfil their life-long dream of getting a MyKad under the MyDaftar campaign.

MyDaftar is an effort by the NRD to identify individuals who had birth certificates but had not applied for a MyKad, and those who did not have birth certificates and thus, unable to secure a MyKad.

Sixty-one NRD offices set up special counters yesterday under the MyDaftar campaign to address documentation problems involving the Indian community, many of whom faced difficulties in obtaining a MyKad despite being born in the country.

Organised by the Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian Community in collaboration with the Home Ministry, the campaign will register Indians who do not have relevant documents pertaining to their birth, identification and citizenship.

Subra cites public interest in minimum wage issue which will influence foreign investment

Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam said today a minimum wage determination requires a balancing of public interest and the impact it will have on foreign investment.

Due to that he asked workers to be rational about it.

The ministry had said that some five million workers in the country would benefit from a minimum wage law which will be discussed by the Cabinet this Friday.

“We are looking at all aspects of this matter and I have stressed that this is not an emotional and political matter. Whatever decision made is for the long term national interest.

“We want to set a suitable wage for the workers but we do not want it to affect the country’s ability in attracting foreign investors,” he told reporters during a press conference after attending a forum on minimum wage organised by Barsian Nasional Youth and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (right), Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam and MTUC deputy president Mohd Khalid Atan (left) at the launch of the minimum wage forum

Subramaniam: We want to set a suitable wage for the workers but we do not want it to affect the country’s ability in attracting foreign investors

Sacked MIC members will return when Samy Vellu resigns, says Subra

Former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam believes that tens of thousands of Indians who were thrown out of the MIC will return to the party after president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu steps down.

He claimed that over 100,000 members left the party after Samy Vellu closed down their branches in the last 30 years, adding that almost all Indian Progressive Front (IPF) members were originally MIC members.