Gerakan chief: No problems if MCA, MIC join PN

Summary

• Gerakan chief Dominic Lau says he has no issues if MCA and MIC join PN.

• Lau says Gerakan welcomes any party that can help PN win GE16.

• MIPP deputy president S Subramaniam says there’s no need for PN to rush to discuss whether MCA and MIC will join the coalition for the coming GE.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau said he has no problems if MCA and MIC decide to join Perikatan Nasional, adding his party had been consulted beforehand on the matter.

“Coalition chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin consulted us on the possibility of MCA and MIC joining PN.

“And I told him, we have no objections at all. In fact, we used to work with them during our time in BN,” Lau told Malaysiakini today.

Amid mounting resentment in MIC and MCA, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had invited the two sidelined BN component parties to join forces, noting their disappointment at being left without representation in the government.

“MCA and MIC are free to determine their path; we welcome them to join us. We have no issues,” he said in an interview with Berita Harian.

Tuan Ibrahim’s call came on the heels of resolutions by at least two state MIC chapters to quit BN, citing frustration at being sidelined.

Yesterday, PN secretary-general Azmin Ali described the offer to MCA and MIC as a “positive development” towards the 16th general election.

Azmin said PN welcomes any political party or individual who embraces the coalition’s ideals and struggle “to correct the worsening situation in the country.”

Prioritising election win

Further, Lau said that Gerakan welcomes any party that can help PN win GE16.

“So, any party that wishes to join our coalition, if they can strengthen PN and help us win, we accept - as long as they can align with our ideology and philosophy.

“As they say, the enemy of our enemy is our friend,” he added.

Asked if any Gerakan leader had voiced reservations on the offer, Lau replied in the negative.

“We’ve worked with them before, and our direction is clear. Whoever can assist us, we accept and put aside our personal agenda,” he stated.

No need to rush, MIPP tells PN

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S Subramaniam said that PN need not rush to discuss whether MCA and MIC will join the coalition in the upcoming general election.

Subramaniam said that the coalition should instead wait until both the BN components make formal applications.

"For me, this issue doesn't need to be discussed now. Let MCA and MIC make formal applications to join PN. We want to know whether they're genuinely interested in joining PN or not.

"Then, the (PN) presidential council can make a decision," he told Malaysiakini, in commenting on rumours that MCA and MIC would exit BN in the coming general election.

Subramaniam said that to date, neither the MIC nor the MCA leadership had made any official statements regarding their position in BN.

"MIC previously said it would discuss with all parties at the GE to determine its party's future.

"That means MIC will discuss with PN as well as Pakatan Harapan. That's what I'm saying - let them make formal applications," he said.

Azmin: PAS' call for MCA, MIC to join PN a positive move

Join us, PAS courts disenchanted MCA and MIC

'Stay or leave': MCA urged to decide on 'empty shell' BN

FT MIC approves motion to withdraw from BN, citing Zahid's 'failures'

MIC sec-gen: Talks with PN don't mean withdrawing support for Anwar

'Not a secret affair': MIC confirms informal talks with PN