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‘Unwanted guest’ MIC to decide on direction after October AGM
Deputy president M Saravanan says the party has been cheated several times, including when it was 'agreed' that it would get a Cabinet post in the unity government
MIC deputy president M Saravanan said BN Cabinet members have not spoken up on issues close to the Indian community’s heart.
PETALING JAYA: MIC will decide on its future direction after its annual general meeting in October, amid discontent over the lack of representation in the unity government from the party and the Indian community.
MIC deputy president M Saravanan said the Barisan Nasional component feels sidelined and like an “unwanted guest” in the unity government, Utusan Malaysia reported.
He said the party has not been given any posts in the government, including in government-linked companies, despite having senior political figures like himself as party leaders.
Saravanan said many MIC members voiced dissatisfaction with the unity government during the recently concluded divisional level meetings.
Asked if MIC was considering joining PN, he said: “Right now, I dare not say yes or no.”
The former human resources minister said MIC’s gripe was how it had no role in the government despite being an experienced party, and one of the few that solely represents the Indian community.
“If someone doesn’t want us around anymore, should we continue (in such a relationship)? Right now, we’re seen as an unwanted party in the unity government.
“We have no role in the Cabinet, no role in any GLC, and no role at any level. It is as if they don’t need us. Therefore, MIC will make a decision soon,” he was quoted as saying.
The four-term Tapah MP said the state-level MIC meetings will be held in August and September, and the central AGM will take place in October.
While he viewed Umno leaders in the Cabinet as representing BN rather than just their party, he said they have not spoken up on issues close to the Indian community’s heart.
“When there are issues involving temples, matriculation spots, and more recently, the case involving (Islamic preacher) Zamri Vinoth, I do not see our (BN) representatives speaking up for the Indian community,” he said.
He said this was why MIC should be given a post in the Cabinet.
Umno warned against unilateral decisions
Saravanan said MIC had been “cheated” several times, including when it was “agreed” the party would get a Cabinet post in the unity government.
He said this was among the reasons why MIC retracted its support for Perikatan Nasional after the 2022 general election led to a hung Parliament.
“The BN chairman (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) told us that the prime minister agreed to have an MIC representative in the Cabinet. But we were deceived, though there was an agreement at the time.
“But we still accepted this and continued supporting the unity government for the sake of political stability. We weren’t selfish, even though we were deceived,” he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.
He said MIC had raised the matter with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he claimed had promised to “do something” about it.
However, he said, nothing has been done since, nearly three years after Anwar was appointed to the top post.
Saravanan maintained that BN must ensure all decisions are made by consensus, warning Umno against making unilateral calls without consulting the components.
“Don’t blame us if the other components disagree with a decision you make without discussing (with us first),” he said.
MIC deputy president M Saravanan said the Barisan Nasional component feels sidelined and like an “unwanted guest” in the unity government, Utusan Malaysia reported.
He said the party has not been given any posts in the government, including in government-linked companies, despite having senior political figures like himself as party leaders.
Saravanan said many MIC members voiced dissatisfaction with the unity government during the recently concluded divisional level meetings.
Asked if MIC was considering joining PN, he said: “Right now, I dare not say yes or no.”
The former human resources minister said MIC’s gripe was how it had no role in the government despite being an experienced party, and one of the few that solely represents the Indian community.
“If someone doesn’t want us around anymore, should we continue (in such a relationship)? Right now, we’re seen as an unwanted party in the unity government.
“We have no role in the Cabinet, no role in any GLC, and no role at any level. It is as if they don’t need us. Therefore, MIC will make a decision soon,” he was quoted as saying.
The four-term Tapah MP said the state-level MIC meetings will be held in August and September, and the central AGM will take place in October.
While he viewed Umno leaders in the Cabinet as representing BN rather than just their party, he said they have not spoken up on issues close to the Indian community’s heart.
“When there are issues involving temples, matriculation spots, and more recently, the case involving (Islamic preacher) Zamri Vinoth, I do not see our (BN) representatives speaking up for the Indian community,” he said.
He said this was why MIC should be given a post in the Cabinet.
Umno warned against unilateral decisions
Saravanan said MIC had been “cheated” several times, including when it was “agreed” the party would get a Cabinet post in the unity government.
He said this was among the reasons why MIC retracted its support for Perikatan Nasional after the 2022 general election led to a hung Parliament.
“The BN chairman (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) told us that the prime minister agreed to have an MIC representative in the Cabinet. But we were deceived, though there was an agreement at the time.
“But we still accepted this and continued supporting the unity government for the sake of political stability. We weren’t selfish, even though we were deceived,” he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.
He said MIC had raised the matter with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he claimed had promised to “do something” about it.
However, he said, nothing has been done since, nearly three years after Anwar was appointed to the top post.
Saravanan maintained that BN must ensure all decisions are made by consensus, warning Umno against making unilateral calls without consulting the components.
“Don’t blame us if the other components disagree with a decision you make without discussing (with us first),” he said.
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