MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has given an assurance the party will focus on assisting the Indian community despite a move by several former members to sue the party.

"As far as I am concerned, the community comes first. We didn't start this, other people started it so we have to face it.

"However, our focus and attention is on the community and that is where our primary responsibility lies," he told reporters after chairing an MIC Central Working Commitee meeting at the MIC headquarters here Saturday.

On Feb 5, former party secretary-general A. K. Ramalingam and seven others filed a suit against Dr Subramaniam and seven others at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on allegations of conspiring to topple former MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Meanwhile, Dr Subramaniam said the party had decided to open 500 new branches in the next six months which will be led by graduates keen on joining the party.

On another matter, he said MIC had met the Attorney-General's Chambers to present proposals to amend the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.