A party in Malaysia's ruling coalition fell into crisis after its leader declared he wanted his long-serving deputy ousted in party elections, reports said Monday.
Malaysian Indian Congress party President S Samy Vellu said he would back his former press secretary to challenge the party's deputy president of 24 years, S Subramaniam, when the party holds elections next year, The Star daily reported.
Samy's open declaration of opposition to Subramaniam was likely to divide the party because both leaders have core groups of supporters.
However, it will not affect the stability of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government or of his ruling National Front coalition, which is dominated by the United Malays National Organisation party.
The Star said Samy picked former press aide G Palanivel, who is now a party vice president, to challenge Subramaniam for the post of deputy president.
Many see Subramaniam, who does not hold a government position, as a threat to Samy.
Samy, who is works minister and has been MIC leader since 1981, has often accused Subramaniam of trying to undermine his leadership.
'I have to hand over the party to someone who cares for the community, cries for them and has the determination to serve the community,' Samy was cited as saying by The Star. 'That is why I have chosen a man and that is Palanivel,' he said.
Neither Samy nor his aides were immediately available to confirm the comments.
The MIC is the third largest party in National Front, representing ethnic Indians who comprise less than 10 percent of Malaysia's 25 million population.
The second biggest players in the ruling coalition are the Chinese.
The MIC has long been a mainstay of the Malay-led government, delivering support of Indians at general elections, but it is often accused of doing little to uplift the economic status of the community.
Malaysian Indians, many of them who still earn a living tapping rubber and doing menial labor, lag behind ethnic Chinese and Malays with minimal participation in the corporate sector-- a situation often blamed on MIC's failure to have a viable and comprehensive economic plan to help the Indians.
Samy enjoys strong support among the party's branch leaders despite criticism that he is autocratic in running the MIC.
Subramaniam is seen as one of the few leaders in the party who is not subservient to Samy and has his own core of supporters.
In a veiled criticism against Subramaniam, Samy said he could no longer afford to 'have ineffective leaders' but needed new blood 'who when we say walk, they must jump'.
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