TAPAH: MIC is still a Barisan Nasional component party as no final decision has been made on any new political cooperation, says Datuk Seri M. Saravanan on Sunday (Dec 14).
The MIC deputy president said that its supreme council had yet to discuss the party's future direction on the matter.
"At this point, MIC is still with Barisan until a decision is made at the supreme council level. We are still a component party," Sinar Harian reported him as saying at the MIC Tapah office here.
Asked about Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks that component parties that leave the coalition will not be accepted back, Saravanan said he concurred with that stand.
"What he said is correct. Any party that leaves Barisan leaves for good and will not be coming back. I agree with him," said Saravanan, who is also Tapah MP.
On speculation surrounding MIC's possible entry into Perikatan Nasional, he said no decision had been made on the matter.
On the possibility of him joining the Cabinet, Saravanan said this was entirely up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"That is the Prime Minister's prerogative.
"I can't make a decision – and even if there is an offer, the party (MIC) has to make a decision," he said.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid warned that any Barisan component party that leaves the coalition would not be accepted back into the fold.
