The wing’s chief, Mohana Muniandy, took to task PPP president M Kayveas, IPF president M. Sambanthan and prominent businessman Kenneth Iswaran for attending the event which also featured a press conference allegedly belittling MIC president Dr S. Subramaniam.

In a press statement, Mohana said the trio’s action was uncalled for and was most likely aimed at dividing the Indian community further.

She also wondered if the trio attended the event as they “feared MIC’s strength”.

“The Barisan Nasional leadership should take note of the attitudes of these leaders who are so-called BN supporters but want to project their individual strength to divide the Indian community.”

MIC Wanita, she added, wanted the three leaders to stop playing with fire as such “lowly acts” would only breed hatred and infighting.

Mohana added that MIC had only one legitimate leader in Dr Subramaniam.

Palanivel was stripped of his MIC presidency and membership after violating the Indian-based party’s constitution last year, following a leadership tussle sparked by differences in opinion between Palanivel and his then deputy, Dr Subramaniam .

This came after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) issued a notice in December 2013 directing the party to hold fresh elections for three vice-presidential and 23 Central Working Committee posts.

The RoS had nullified the elections held in November that year following complaints of irregularities and ordered fresh polls to be held.