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BARISAN Nasional (BN) is set to convene a top-level meeting to discuss the position of its Indian-majority component party, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), but leaders insist that attention remains firmly on the upcoming Sabah state election.
Speaking after attending the monthly assembly of the Ministry of Higher Education, BN Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the coalition and its member parties are united in prioritising the contest in Sabah before deliberating on MIC’s internal matters.
“Yes, I believe we will give priority to issues concerning MIC. For now, all component parties understand that our focus is on Sabah. Let us resolve matters there first, and thereafter we will discuss together in the spirit of Barisan Nasional,” he said.
The remarks come in the wake of MIC’s 79th annual general assembly last Sunday, which postponed a decision on whether the party should remain in BN.
During the assembly, Deputy President Datuk Seri M Saravanan presented three motions, including a proposal for MIC to leave the coalition and seek alignment with the opposition.
MIC President Tan Sri S A Vigneswaran confirmed that the motions, including the proposal to exit BN, were accepted and referred to the party’s Central Working Committee.
Vigneswaran emphasised that regardless of any future political decisions, MIC will continue to support the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim until the end of his mandate.
Zambry, who is also Higher Education Minister, indicated that the BN Supreme Council meeting to address MIC’s future is likely to take place after the Sabah polls, adding that he has no information on potential changes to his own senatorial tenure or ministerial portfolio, leaving such matters to the discretion of the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Umno Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urged MIC to make decisions based on pragmatism rather than political promises from other coalitions. Speaking at a ceramah in Taman Murni, Sandakan, he described BN Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s proposal to meet MIC leaders on the party’s role in the coalition as reasonable.
“Do not let offers that do not benefit the people influence your decisions. We may face difficulties now, but we rise together. We have been friends from the beginning. We hope they do not forget this long-standing friendship,” Asyraf said.
Asyraf also highlighted the growing momentum of the so-called “blue wave” in Sabah, stressing that BN’s campaigning had been ongoing for five months and that the coalition had avoided internal disputes in the 45 seats it is contesting.
He credited the sustained grassroots engagement for fostering voter support for BN’s “Bikin Balik Sabah” election theme, which he said is resonating strongly with the electorate.
The statements from both Zambry and Asyraf underscore BN’s dual strategy of maintaining internal cohesion while keeping its focus firmly on achieving electoral success in Sabah. - November 19, 2025
