Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the internal problems brewing within the MIC to a certain extent have an effect on the strength of BN.

shafie apdal and mps no defection pc 280808 04 As such, Shafie ( right ), who is also the rural and regional development minister, said the MIC leadership must resolve the party problems as soon as possible so that the impact would not be prolonged.

"The problems certainly have an impact but not to the extent that they can stop our activities. Internal crises within the BN component parties such as Umno, the MIC and MCA had certainly occurred in the past.

"In fact, Umno had been deregistered before (due to an internal crisis). But we are confident that the successful settlement of the crisis within the party (MIC) will strengthen BN," he said when asked to comment on the internal problems faced by the MIC.

The sooner, the better

He said the sooner the MIC resolved its internal problems, the sooner would BN be strengthened because the MIC represented the third largest component member.

MIC president S Samy Vellu recently expelled two MIC central working committee (CWC) members, namely KP Samy and G Kumar Amaan, MIC Youth deputy head V Mugilan and veteran leader of the Petaling Jaya division, V Subramaniam, for their vocal criticisms and call for Samy Vellu to relinquish his post earlier than the date announced by him.

Mugilan is also organising the Anti-Samy Vellu Movement (GAS) gathering at The Mines, Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow.

He said about 15,000 people are expected to join the rally.

- Bernama