BN won’t stop MIC from leaving – Zahid

BARISAN Nasional will not prevent MIC or any of its component parties from leaving the coalition, says its chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, said he believes MIC will make a “wise decision” during its annual general meeting (AGM) next month and hopes that it will not make a decision that the party will later regret, Bernama reported.

“We are open (to it). BN used to have 14 component parties, and there was no compulsion (for any party) to join or leave BN,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying at an event in Shah Alam on Friday.

The deputy prime minister was asked by reporters if BN was prepared for MIC’s potential departure.

Both MIC and MCA are reportedly considering leaving BN, citing dissatisfaction with their position in the unity government.

In July, MIC said it felt like an “unwanted guest” while deputy president M Saravanan claimed MIC was “cheated” of a promised Cabinet post after the 15th general election.

Zahid previously said he had met MIC and MCA leaders two to three times last week, as questions lingered over the parties’ future in BN, but MIC president SA Vigneswaran expressed surprise as he had no knowledge about this.

On MIC’s decision not to invite him to its AGM, Zahid said such situations were normal.

“This is not the first time (MIC has not invited the BN chairman) because this AGM, they want to resolve internal issues.

“Of course, we (BN) will give them all the space to settle these matters,” he said.

BN tidak akan halang MIC keluar, kata Zahid

BARISAN Nasional tidak akan menghalang MIC atau mana-mana parti komponennya untuk keluar dari pakatan itu, kata pengerusinya Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu berkata, dia percaya MIC boleh membuat keputusan bijak pada sidang tahunannya bulan depan, dan berharap mereka tidak tergesa-gesa dalam membuat keputusan yang boleh merugikan masa depan sendiri.

“Kami terbuka. BN pernah ada 14 parti komponen, dan tidak paksaan untuk tetap bersama BN atau meninggalkannya,” katanya di Shah Alam, Jumaat lalu.

MIC dan MCA sejak akhir-akhir ini banyak dilaporkan mahu meninggalkan pakatan politik itu dengan menyatakan rasa tidak puas hati penyertaan BN di dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan.

Julai lalu, MIC berkata ia seperti ‘tidak diperlukan’ manakala timbalan presidennya M Saravanan mendakwa ‘ditipu’ selepas dijanjikan jawatan Kabinet selepas pilihanraya umum ke-15.

Zahid sebelum ini berkata sudah berbincang dengan pemimpin kedua-dua parti beberapa kali minggu lalu tetapi dinafikan oleh presiden MIC, SA Vigneswaran.

Mengenai keputusan MIC menjemputnya ke persidangan itu, Zahid berkata ia adalah perkara biasa.

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