BN constitutional change fine but accept new parties with caution, says MIC

 

MIC president SA Vigneswaran said MIC had never deserted BN even in its darkest moments after its defeat in the general election in 2018. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: MIC is open to amending the Barisan Nasional (BN) constitution but it must not be done to give an upper hand to a particular component member to get majority support in the coalition, says party president SA Vigneswaran.

He said while the party welcomes any move to amend the BN constitution, especially in the post-14th general election era which resulted in the change of government, any new entrant must benefit the coalition as a whole.

“If the party concerned has the strength and machinery, no one will object. But if the purpose is to give one particular component member more authority, it’s unacceptable,” he told FMT when asked if MIC will support the change to the clause which gives the veto power to component parties to decide on applications by new parties wanting to join the coalition.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier said at Makkal Sakti’s annual general assembly that the clause in the BN constitution which gave the veto power to component parties was outdated and must be tweaked.

Vigneswaran said that decisions by individual parties in BN should not be imposed on the coalition, adding that party decisions should also not be used to make BN’s stand.

He said BN should also refrain from practising double standards when it comes to accepting parties that had worked against it in the past into its fold.

“These decisions are based on consensus which are aimed at not hurting the feelings of coalition members whose rivals had worked against them in past elections but who are opting to join BN now.

“If the principle is to forgive and forget and accept those who had worked against us in the past, every party which has worked against BN should be considered. Decisions on this should not be made at the whims and fancies of certain parties,” he said.

Although Vigneswaran did not elaborate, it is understood that he was referring to Umno imposing its decision on BN not to work with Bersatu and PAS, without discussing with coalition members first.

Vigneswaran said decisions to accept new members should not be based on those showing crowd support, adding that this could even be done by NGOs.

“Their applications must be supported by the strength of actual registered membership and the strength of their machinery.”

He said MIC had never deserted BN even in its darkest moments after its defeat in the general election in 2018, adding that even MCA wanted to leave the coalition at that point.

“I take great pride in saying that it was MIC that was holding the BN web together to ensure that it stayed together. And it was also MIC’s strategic sacrifice of its Cameron Highlands seat in the first by-election after GE14 that ensured the first victory for BN after numerous defeats.”

Makkal Sakti has been clamouring to join BN since it was formed in 2013 but it is understood that MIC has been opposing the Hindraf breakaway party’s bid to be a member of the coalition.

The latest party wanting to join BN is Parti Bangsa Malaysia, comprising MPs and assemblymen who had quit PKR. Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin is its president-designate. - FMT