BN not keen in meddling in MIC affairs

BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan says the proposed secretariat is to help MIC and they have no intention to take over the party.

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional is not interested in meddling in the internal affairs of MIC and the secretariat proposal was just a suggestion to help the party resolve its internal crisis.

BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told press conference today it was up to the MIC whether or not to accept the proposal.

However, he said, if the party decided not to accept BN’s proposal, it must abide by the Registar of Societies’ (RoS) orders for a re-election.

He also suggested for MIC to no longer issue media statements regarding its internal conflicts and urged them to solve the matter within the party.

“As the BN secretary-general we want all our component parties to abide by the rules. So, don’t think that we want to take over MIC. We don’t have that intention,” he said.

Party president G Palanivel who snubbed at the idea said the proposal was ‘very disturbing’ and vowed not to let a third party interfere in party affairs.

Palanivel said although MIC was a BN component party, it was a political party in its own right and governed by its own constitution.

“Barisan Nasional should respect the Constitution of MIC and not invade into the administration of MIC as proposed,” he said adding that BN had no jurisdiction whatsoever to take over the administration of the Indian party or conduct its elections.

Former MIC president, S Samy Vellu had also rejected the proposal and said that it was an embarrassment to the party.