Malaysian minister G Palanivel no longer MIC president: RoS

Malaysia's Registrar of Societies (RoS) has acknowledged that the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment G Palanivel has lost his membership and is no longer president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) - one of three major parties in the nation's ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.

This means Mr Palanivel is now an independent MP and minister in Prime Minister Najib Razak's cabinet.

Mr Palanivel's membership was revoked after he mounted a legal challenge against a ROS directive ordering fresh Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, following complaints from members of irregularities in the 2013 polls where he was chosen president.

MIC's constitution states that any member who takes party matters to court will automatically lose their party membership.

In a letter dated June 25, 2015, the Registrar of Societies said it had updated its records to reflect Mr Palanivel's exit from the party and that his deputy, Dr S Subramaniam, is now acting president.

MIC has been plagued by factional problems, requiring even the intervention of the Prime Minister in the past. The party is now set to hold re-elections for the CEC, as directed by the RoS, beginning with nominations in July.