The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) continues to grapple with its political direction, as the party’s annual convention has deferred the decision on whether to stay in Barisan Nasional (BN) to party president SA Vigneswaran and the central working committee (CWC).
Earlier, MIC deputy president M Saravanan tabled three resolutions at the party’s 79th convention, including proposals for MIC to leave BN and to formally apply to join the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Despite lively debate among delegates, no vote was taken, with the convention agreeing instead to entrust the MIC decision on BN to Vigneswaran and the party’s top leadership.
Speculation over MIC’s future has been ongoing for months, fuelled by the party’s dissatisfaction with what it sees as neglect by BN’s leading party, Umno.
BN chairman and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously said the coalition would not prevent MIC or any other component party from leaving if it chose to do so.
Speaking at the convention, Vigneswaran said MIC had reached a crossroads in its journey with BN, and that it was up to delegates to determine the party’s direction.
MIC has also been contemplating joining PN, which currently includes the Malaysian India People’s Party (MIPP) and PAS’s non-Islamic wing, the Dewan Himpunan Pendukung PAS (DHPP), both positioned as vehicles to represent the Indian community.
About The Author
