Don’t stay silent in BN meetings, then complain outside, Tok Mat chides MIC

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan asked MIC why it kept quiet during BN meetings but is expressing dissatisfaction elsewhere.

"If you have opinions, let us know... don't keep your feelings bottled up in meetings but talk about it outside - that's not right," Berita Harian quoted him as saying at a carnival in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, today.

Such actions and statements may affect the harmony between BN component parties, the coalition deputy chairperson added.

Mohamad also recommended that MIC stop issuing statements outside of the coalition's supreme council.

"If you have any wishes, present them to the BN supreme council platform, which has been a forum for all coalition parties in BN, including Umno and MCA.

"That's better than us speaking outside or issuing views that end up having a negative impact on our own party," he said.

Recently, four MIC state liaison committees passed resolutions to withdraw from BN.

Federal Territories MIC chairperson S Rajah said the party leadership must decide whether to leave the coalition, arguing that BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has consistently failed to defend the coalition’s component parties from being sidelined.

Invitation from PN

Amid the mounting resentment from MIC and MCA, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man invited the two parties to join opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.

PN secretary-general Azmin Ali, in turn, noted this invitation as a “positive development” towards the next 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.”

Yesterday, MIC secretary-general, S Ananthan said any decision by his party is taken in the interest of the party and the Indian community, without having to defer to MCA.

He was responding to questions as to whether MIC would decide its future alongside MCA - in the absence of Umno.

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