MIC has confirmed that it will remain a component of Barisan Nasional (BN) for the time being, though Deputy President M Saravanan remained non-committal regarding the party’s future alignment. Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters today, he clarified the current standing of the veteran Indian-based party.
When asked if the current stance ruled out a potential move to join the opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), Saravanan did not dismiss the possibility. He noted that recent developments within the opposition bloc required the party to carefully re-evaluate its position.
The deputy president pointed out that while MIC had not rejected PN outright, previous discussions had taken place under a different leadership structure.
This indicates that the party is keeping its options open as the political landscape continues to evolve.
Reassessing under new leadership
The shift in PN’s leadership appears to be a significant factor in MIC’s cautious approach. PAS Vice-President Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was appointed as PN chairman last month, succeeding Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin, who stepped down in January.
Saravanan highlighted that when MIC initially made enquiries, PN was led by Bersatu, but the coalition is now under the leadership of PAS. He stressed the importance of understanding how this change affects the perspective of their supporters.
Beyond checking with party grassroots, Saravanan emphasized that MIC must gauge the sentiment of the wider Indian community. He noted that the party needs to ensure it has the community’s backing before deciding whether to join a coalition led by PAS.
Future direction remains fluid
The party intends to revisit the matter once comprehensive feedback has been gathered from various stakeholders. When questioned on whether MIC would remain with BN until the end of the current parliamentary term, Saravanan suggested that the situation remains fluid.
He remarked that while the status quo is currently being maintained, circumstances in politics can change rapidly. For the moment, the party is focused on maintaining open lines of communication with all political entities.
These comments follow Saravanan’s recent dismissal of claims by PN Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan that MIC had already officially joined the coalition.
Speculation regarding MIC’s departure from BN has persisted since the party’s general assembly in November, where delegates authorized the leadership to consider such a move due to concerns over the party’s role.
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