As the BN supreme council meets today, its rival Perikatan Nasional has reportedly approved MIC’s application to join, marking a major shift in the political landscape.
Three Bersatu and PN sources confirmed to Malaysiakini that the decision was reached during a PN supreme council meeting held on Dec 9 last year.
“During the meeting, (then) PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin gave a lengthy explanation regarding a letter submitted by the MIC leadership and a meeting with MIC leaders.
“Muhyiddin emphasised the importance of MIC and other parties in strengthening the coalition’s machinery ahead of the upcoming election.
“The main reason for accepting MIC is to allow PN to attract support from non-Malay voters, with a specific focus on the Indian community, which is a decisive factor in many urban seats,” a source claimed.
The source added that the meeting agreed to accept MIC as a component party, despite opposition from the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).
MIPP, a new member of PN, reportedly disagreed with the decision and asked to defer MIC’s entry as the party is still a BN component.
Malaysiakini has contacted MIPP leaders for comment but received no response.
Did MIC apply to join PN?
In November last year, it was reported that Muhyiddin claimed MIC had applied to join PN.
Muhyiddin said the PN supreme council would look into the matter in a December meeting before making an official decision.
However, MIC denied making any application to join the opposition coalition.
MIC secretary-general S Ananthan explained that the letter sent to PN was not an official application to join the coalition, but was intended to obtain preliminary information before the party made any decision.
He said the letter was sent four days before the party’s annual general meeting to allow MIC to understand PN’s stand better.
Ananthan added that the move to send the letter was made after several PAS leaders, including PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, invited MIC to hold a meeting and consider joining PN.
He further explained that MIC also requested clarification on PN’s commitment to the development of the Indian community, including issues of education, socio-economics, and political representation.
Fractured BN
MIC previously stated several times that it is considering leaving BN, following dissatisfaction with its political position, especially after Umno, under Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s leadership, established cooperation with Pakatan Harapan.
Besides MIC, MCA is also concerned about the issue of election seat allocation, which they consider more favourable to incumbent parties.
Under the BN-Harapan seat-sharing formula, MCA and MIC are expected to receive only a small number of seats to contest in the next general election.
However, in the recent Umno general assembly, Zahid appeared to try to appease MCA and MIC by calling on both parties to stop “sulking” and return to strengthen the coalition that has been formed for over five decades.
In his policy address, Zahid, who is also BN chairperson, said “sibling” relationships inevitably go through moments of crisis like a bitten tongue.
Nonetheless, he said they still need to come back together in the end.
‘No Pejuang, Putra in PN yet’
While PN appeared to be opening up to MIC, PN sources claimed that a different fate befell two Malay parties - Pejuang and Putra.
“The applications of Pejuang and Putra to join PN as component parties have reportedly been deferred by the coalition’s supreme council.
“PN may only accept both parties as part of an electoral pact.
“This move is aimed at avoiding a split in votes in Malay-majority areas, without having to grant them permanent member status,” said the source.
Malaysiakini is attempting to get comments from MIC and several PN leaders. - Mkini
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