KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang chapter of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has decided to follow Kedah’s lead and support an exit from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
Penang MIC chairman J. Dhinagaran said the decision was made at the party’s state-level annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday.
“During Penang MIC‘s 79th AGM, the division chairmen and branch chairmen of Penang MIC endorsed this decision and agreed to leave it to the party president and the Central Working Committee to decide,” he said.
Dhinagaran said BN “is not sharing any opportunities with us and only wants all the positions for themselves”. He said these opportunities included seats, positions in government-linked companies, and councillor posts.
He said that in Penang, the party was “not receiving anything through BN“, adding that the sentiment had been relayed to MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran.
“I would like to remind BN that it is not easy to replace MIC, and it will not be easy for them to face the 16th General Elections without MIC,” he said. “We are not threatening them, but this is the truth.”
Previously, the MIC president said the party was prepared to discuss with any political party to ensure its survival and to better serve the Indian community.
However, analysts have said such a move could risk marginalising the party politically, as multiracial parties have broader appeal.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
