MIC must respond to our invitation, says PN

 Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan says the party must clarify its position promptly.

Takiyuddin Hassan said although PN has given MIC time to decide on its invitation to join the coalition, the matter cannot be left unresolved indefinitely.

PETALING JAYA:

 Perikatan Nasional has called on MIC to clarify its position after the party indicated that it is remaining with Barisan Nasional for now despite making inquiries about potentially joining PN.

PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said while the opposition coalition had provided MIC time to decide on its invitation to sign up, the matter could not be left unresolved indefinitely.

“MIC can reply to the letter or issue a statement, but if there is no prompt response, we will consider that it has refused (PN’s invitation).

“We are puzzled that MIC said it is currently remaining with BN. That is something MIC must clarify,” he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house in Kota Bharu, his parliamentary constituency, today, Sinar Harian reported.

Takiyuddin said MIC submitted a letter to then PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin last November expressing interest in joining the coalition.

He said the application was subsequently discussed and approved in PN meetings before an official invitation was issued.

However, Takiyuddin said MIC’s central working committee decided on Wednesday not to accept the offer, although PN had not received any formal written response.

“If they do not want to (join), that is fine. PN is not for sale. Anyone who wants to join must apply, and those who do not, that is their choice,” he said.

On Wednesday, MIC deputy president M Saravanan said the party would remain in BN for now after noting that earlier discussions about joining PN took place under a different PN leadership.

Saravanan said MIC wanted to ensure it had the Indian community’s support before joining a PAS-led coalition.

PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was appointed PN chairman last month, taking over from Bersatu president Muhyiddin, who stepped down in January.

Talk of MIC leaving BN heated up after the party’s general assembly last November, when delegates gave the leadership the mandate to consider such a move amid dissatisfaction over the party’s role and relevance. - FMT