The MIC may follow Umno's move to defer party elections scheduled for next year to concentrate on preparation for the next general election.

MIC president Samy Vellu was quoted by Bernama as saying that it was possible for the party to postpone its elections, but no decision has been made.

"Otherwise, we will continue with the meetings (and elections). We do not know when the general election will be held...but we can consider such a proposal," he told reporters after opening the Tamil Youth Bell Club general assembly in Seremban today.

Samy Vellu said according to the schedule, MIC branch meetings should be held by Feb 28, division meetings by March 31 and state meetings by April 30 next year.

"The MIC general assembly should be held before August. If it is to be held after August, we need approval from the Registrar of Societies," he said.

Time and energy

He said the general assembly had been set for May 17 and 18, and an invitation had been sent to the prime minister to open the meeting in his capacity as the Barisan Nasional chairman.

Umno has decided to postpone its triennial party polls in June up to 18 months to focus on the impending general election during its supreme council meeting last Friday.

According to party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the move was to ensure all members devote their time and energy to the general election which must be called by November 2004.

With some three million members, Umno is the lynchpin of the ruling National Front coalition of racially-based parties, with Chinese-based party MCA being the second largest.

It had similarly in 1999 postponed party polls to prepare for the general election which was called in November that year. Umno held its internal elections six months later.

There has been talk of an early general election next year either before or after Mahathir, 76, steps down in October 2003 after 22 years at the helm.