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THE Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has indicated it is open to holding discussions with Barisan Nasional’s top leadership should an invitation be extended, as the party weighs its future within the long-standing coalition.
Its president, Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran, said MIC had never regarded BN, led by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, nor UMNO as opponents despite current tensions.
“For the time being we have not received an invitation to hold a meeting with BN. We can meet at any time. Everyone must understand that BN or UMNO and MIC are not enemies, we have been together for more than 60 years,” he said, noting that MIC’s recent decisions were driven by concerns over the party’s political space.
“What we are doing is for the future of the party because we see that MIC has not been given space, and when a decision is made it does not mean that MIC wants to threaten anyone. MIC has never been like that and has never intended to hurt anyone,” he added in an interview with Sinar Harian.
His remarks followed Ahmad Zahid’s statement on Wednesday that efforts by BN Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to arrange a meeting with senior MIC leaders represented the most constructive approach.
The comments come in the wake of a unanimous vote by MIC delegates at the party’s 79th AGM in Shah Alam supporting a resolution to withdraw from BN, while giving the leadership the discretion to determine the appropriate timing and to explore new political alignments.
The party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) is expected to review the resolution before deciding on the next steps.
Asked when the CWC would convene to discuss the matter, Vigneswaran said the meeting would take place “in the near future”.
He emphasised that the delegates’ vote was not an act of anger but a carefully considered decision.
“The meeting has not yet been fixed, but it will be held soon. The decision made by the delegates (to leave BN) was not out of anger but for the future of the party,” he said.
The developments mark one of the most significant junctures in MIC’s relationship with BN since the coalition’s formation, with discussions expected to shape the trajectory of both MIC and the alliance in the months ahead. - November 21, 2025