SHAH ALAM - MIC President Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran slammed criticisms hurled by certain quarters against the party merely for attempting to explore a new political alignment outside Barisan Nasional (BN), particularly with Pas.
He said PKR and DAP had previously worked with Pas under the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR), while Umno formed Muafakat Nasional (MN) together with Pas, which also eventually failed.
Therefore, he said, MIC’s move to simply consider engaging with Pas should not be made into an issue as other parties had done the same before.
“When PR wanted to work with Pas, it was praised as a ‘reform’. When Umno worked with Pas, it was called ‘ummah unity’.
“But when MIC merely considers engaging with Pas, suddenly it becomes an issue.
“Suddenly it becomes unacceptable to many, and MIC is asked to remain silent and confined within political boundaries set by others. This is the ‘double standard’ that we have to face,” he said.
He said this while delivering his policy speech before delegates at the 79th MIC General Assembly held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) here on Sunday.
Previously, Sinar reported that MIC would hold a closed-door discussion and debate to decide whether to leave BN.
Vigneswaran said MIC was no longer respected as one of the component parties in BN, whether as a sibling or an ally.
He also believed that if MIC wants to rise with dignity, the party must renew its struggle starting with the youth.
Earlier, former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman claimed that MIC had decided to leave BN in November.
The revelation was made through a video posted on his TikTok account.
The former Pasir Salak MP claimed that the matter was acknowledged by MIC Deputy President, Datuk Seri M Saravanan during the Deepavali celebration at his residence last October.
Meanwhile, Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that BN has never forced any component party to stay or leave the coalition.
He said the decision on whether to remain with BN or join another coalition is the right of every component party.