Samy removes Kuala SelangorÂ’s Thirumoorthy
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/17/nation/17456615&sec=nation
IJOK: Kuala Selangor MIC division chief P. Thirumoorthy, who threatened to resign if he was not chosen as the Barisan NasionalÂ’s candidate for the Ijok by-election, has been replaced.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party had already appointed a new division chief and replaced six of the 33 branch chairmen who supported Thirumoorthy.
He declined to comment further.
Meanwhile, Thirumoorthy said he considered himself out of the party following the announcement of the by-election candidate here yesterday.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
When asked whether he had tendered a resignation letter, he said: “There is no need for me to tender a resignation letter because Samy Vellu had said he did want to see me and has expelled me already.”
Thirumoorthy also claimed that 34 out 76 Kuala Selangor MIC branch chiefs would be leaving with him.
“They will inform the headquarters soon,” he said.
On Sunday, Thirumoorthy threatened to resign if he was not chosen and Samy Vellu immediately slammed him, calling him a traitor.
In a statement faxed to the press last evening, Thirumoorthy said he was saddened being labelled a traitor when he had been loyal to the party president for the last 27 years.
“This is a cruel accusation, which hurts me and the Ijok voters,” he said.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Dr Khir Toyo announced yesterday that Tanjung Karang MIC division secretary K. Parthiban would be Barisan’s candidate for the by-election.
The Ijok state seat became vacant after incumbent K. Sivalingam died on April 4.
Thirumoothy claimed that Samy Vellu had sent Sivalingam, who was facing a court case then, to Ijok in 1990 and added that Sivalingam would have lost the election if not for him, a division secretary then, who had worked day and night to ensure SivalingamÂ’s victory.