Malaysian Indian Congress weighs exit from Barisan Nasional alliance, vows continued support for PM Anwar

At a press conference following the meeting, Vigneswaran told reporters the central working committee will decide whether MIC will align with PN or any other coalition, Astro Awani reported. 

He said two resolutions were tabled during the meeting. One was the proposal to leave BN and join PN, and the other was to grant the central working committee and party president the full mandate to determine the party’s political direction.

“It is not a matter of whether to leave or not, that part is already clear. The question is with whom and when,” he said, as quoted by Astro Awani.  

“In taking any step to join a new coalition, there are many factors to consider: Whether the coalition truly represents the aspirations of all communities, whether there will be constitutional amendments and many other issues that require clarifications,” he added.

The decision requires careful consideration and more time is needed for the committee to decide on a new political alliance, said Vigneswaran.

The party president did not disclose when the final decision will be made. 

A total of 1,808 delegates attended MIC’s annual general assembly on Sunday. 

According to Vigneswaran, BN’s chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, had not been officially informed yet about the matter as MIC viewed it as an internal affair. 

On Oct 17, Zahid had said BN would not stand in the way if MIC decided to leave.

This is not the first time talk of MIC’s exit from BN has surfaced. 

Last month, former UMNO supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said in a TikTok video that the party had already decided to leave BN, reported Malay Mail. 

Tajuddin claimed this was shared privately by Saravanan during Deepavali celebrations at his home last month.

MIC’s president Vigneswaran then clarified that the party has yet to make a decision. He said while members such as his deputy are entitled to express their views, any decision must be made by consensus, reported Berita Harian.