According to media reports here, a letter signed by party president Samy Vellu effectively terminates the CWC membership of Govindaraj, a former MIC vice-president and a one-time close ally of Vellu, from Sunday night.

MIC is the leading political party representing the Indian community in Malaysia. Ethnic Indians comprise seven percent of the country's population of over 24 million.

The party is holding the elections for its CWC on June 24. Vellu has announced a list of his preferred candidates for various posts, including those of the deputy president and three vice presidents.

In a press conference, Govindaraj said his removal from the CWC was against party contraventions. He said he suspected he was removed because of his plans to stand for a party post in the upcoming elections and also for his open support to current MIC deputy president S. Subramaniam.

Relations between Subramaniam and Vellu have been strained with the latter openly endorsing his favoured candidate G. Palanivel for the deputy president's post.

"It is my fundamental right to support any leader. I don't have to inform anyone about it, including Samy Vellu," Govindaraj was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Govindaraj, 73, has been a member of the MIC since its formation in 1946. Apart from being a member of parliament from Port Klang, he had also served as a party vice president.

However, this is not the first time that Govindaraj has fallen foul of the MIC leadership. In 1983, he was suspended from the party for defaulting on financial responsibility. A year later, he was formally expelled from the party.

He then formed a new party, which, however, could not make any impact in mainstream politics and in 1997 rejoined the MIC. Vellu then made him a member of the party's CWC.

Now, after his removal from the CWC, he has demanded the reasons behind the removal.

"I have worked with all the seven presidents, including Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu. I have contributed to the party, community and country without any fear or self-interest and as such, I deserve one or two reasons for the revocation," the Star report quoted Govindaraj as saying.