BN's plea to Agong: MIC shocked over Zahid's 'inaccurate' statement

 

A top BN leader has expressed shock over a statement issued by its chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday, which stated that the coalition appeals to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to order a Parliament sitting as soon as possible.

MIC president SA Vigneswaran said the BN meeting that took place on Wednesday decided that they would not to make an assumption on the King's decree about Parliament sitting.

"I am shocked with the statement issued by the BN chairperson. The BN meeting had never supported any decision to make an appeal to the Agong to order a Parliament sitting to be conducted as soon as possible," he told Malaysiakini.

He said this when asked to clarify about rumours that the BN meeting did not agree with a call to hold a parliamentary session.

Yesterday, Zahid in his statement as BN chairperson made an appeal to Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to order a Parliament sitting to be held as soon as possible for lawmakers to debate on several crucial matters.

The Umno president also called on all MPs to urge Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassinand his cabinet to respect the King's recent decree on parliamentary sitting.

BN chairperson and Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

However, Vigneswaran, who is also a former Dewan Negara speaker, described Zahid's statement as inaccurate.

"The issue of holding a Parliament session was discussed.

"But there were explanations from several parties that the King did not decree for a Parliament sitting to be held as soon as possible, but was only suggesting that Parliament can sit during the emergency at a date that he finds suitable on the advice of the prime minister.

"Thus, we took the decision not to make any assumption, and there was no need to issue a statement regarding a Parliament session," he said.

For the record, the BN meeting at PWTC on Wednesday was attended by Zahid, Vigneswaran, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan, and two Umno vice-presidents Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahdzir Khalid.

Also present were MCA president Wee Ka Siong, his deputy Mah Hang Soon, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woong, MIC deputy president M Saravanan and its secretary-general M Asojan.

PBS president Joseph Kurup, however, was not present. He was represented by his son Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is also the party deputy president.

Meanwhile, when asked about cooperation with Bersatu, Vigneswaran said that what Umno had decided was not BN's decision.

He was referring to Umno's decision that it would not continue working with Bersatu in the next general election.

Vigneswaran also added that Zahid had given his assurance that BN would never work with Pakatan Harapan.

"Zahid gave his words in God's name that he would not cooperate with DAP, PKR and Amanah at any time," he said. - Mkini