Palanivel to remain party chief till 2016

Malaysia's largest ethnic Indian political party's chief, G Palanivel, will not face a contest in party elections for the top job following the intervention of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Malaysian Indian Congress chief Palanivel today announced that he will remain as the party's president till the first quarter of 2016 before stepping down in favour of his deputy S Subramaniam to avert a contest in the next elections.
"The Prime Minister advised us to avert a contest and we have decided to abide by his decision," he said.
Palanivel said there are no strong challengers for the top positions of president and deputy president of MIC and hinted the party would avoid contests for these posts.

"I believe that there are no strong challengers for the president and deputy president's posts," he said.
Nominations for the MIC presidential election are slated for September 1. The MIC president is picked by the party's 4,000-odd branch chairmen.
Elections for other national posts like deputy president, three vice presidents and 23 central working committee members will be held in November.
Leaders for these positions will be picked by 1,500 divisional delegates.