PETALING JAYA: Both MCA and MIC will remain components of Barisan Nasional and are rejecting any offer to join opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.
While MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran went on to elaborate his party’s stand, the clear message from MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong when approached for comment was a short but decisive “NO”.
Vigneswaran, when contacted, said Umno has done what is good for Umno and that MIC and MCA are also doing the same.
“We ask Umno to respect our parties’ decisions to stay out of the state elections which we have conveyed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” said Vigneswaran when contacted.
Perikatan national election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had said yesterday that Perikatan would not mind offering seats to MIC and MCA should they leave Barisan and join forces with Perikatan.
“We can put them in seats against DAP and garner the non-Malay votes if they join Perikatan,” said Muhammad Sanusi, who is also Kedah Mentri Besar.
Vigneswaran thanked Perikatan for their offer (to join the coalition) adding “but we will say no for now”.
“For MIC, Perikatan is not an enemy.
“If DAP and PKR can be friends with Umno and through them with Barisan, what more Perikatan and us, with whom we were partners in the Federal Government not too long ago,” he said.
He said MIC members did not see any reason for the party to contest the state elections as the seats they wanted had Pakatan incumbents.
“We went for talks on seat distribution, but not once was MIC or MCA offered any seats. If the perimeter agreed by Umno was that incumbent parties keep their seats, then it is better for us to stay out of the state elections and do what is good for MIC.
“The only one who offered us to stay on in Jeram Padang (a state seat in Negri Sembilan) was the Prime Minister himself,” he said.
Vigneswaran added that their decision not to contest should not be seen as sabotaging the Federal Government.
“We fully support and believe Anwar Ibrahim should complete his term as premier, as wished by the King after the last general election,” he said.
On Thursday, Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision by MCA and MIC will be discussed at the Barisan supreme council meeting on Monday.
On July 5, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the decision to sit out the polls was made in a central committee meeting.
“During this period, MCA will focus more on preparing for the 16th General Election.
“At the same time, MCA will play its role as a Barisan component party and will help the coalition’s candidates in the elections in six states,” he said in a statement.
Currently, MCA holds seven state assembly seats – four in Johor, Perak (one) and Melaka (two).
