KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has removed Tan Sri M Mahalingam as the party’s treasurer-general with immediate effect, and party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said a new treasurer-general would be appointed by next week.

Mahalingam himself confirmed his removal, saying he received a letter signed by Samy Vellu on Tuesday afternoon stating that he had been removed as the MIC treasurer-general, a post he has held since 2000.

In his statement, Samy Vellu said the post of treasurer-general would be filled by someone new and that the change was a routine one.

The 73-year-old Mahalingam, a former MIC vice-president and a former deputy human resource minister, declined to elaborate on his removal.

The MIC constitution allows the president to appoint as well as remove the party secretary-general, treasurer-general and information chief.

Mahalingam, a lawyer and long-time ally of Samy Vellu, made his foray into politics after becoming a member of the MIC Puchong branch in 1958.

Ten years later, he became chairman of the branch and was appointed senator in 1976.

The next year, he became a member of the party’s all-powerful central working committee (CWC) and was appointed MIC secretary-general in 1979.

He won the then Selangor state seat of Assam Jawa in 1982 and was made a member of the state executive council the same year.

Mahalingam, who is also a former health ministry parliamentary secretary, was made Selangor MIC state liaison committee chairman in 1984.

He became the party vice-president in 1991 but failed to defend the post in 1997.

The MIC senior leader has also served as the member of parliament for Kapar and Subang from 1990 and 1995, respectively.

Meanwhile, party sources revealed that Mahalingam, who was also in charge of the coffers of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), the education arm of the party, and the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst) college in Kedah, would also be relieved of his duties in those capacities. — Bernama