KOTA KINABALU: MIC is still part of Barisan Nasional, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
The Barisan secretary-general dismissed reports that MIC had left the coalition, saying that, as far as Barisan was concerned, MIC was still a member of the coalition.
"MIC did not send any letters or provide information to Barisan about leaving the coalition. As such, the news report was not true," he said.
He was speaking after a supreme council meeting where the Malaysian People's Progressive Party (PPP) was officially readmitted into the coalition on Wednesday (Jan 21) evening.
On MIC's absence at the supreme council meeting, Zambry said that the meeting was called at short notice, and many could not make it.
"A few leaders could not make it, but we had the quorum," he told reporters after the supreme council meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Others at the meeting were Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Arthur Jospeh Kurup and MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, as well as PPP president Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan.
It was reported earlier that MIC had allegedly applied to join Perikatan Nasional, but no official confirmation of its membership was made by the opposition coalition.
Meanwhile, Zambry said that the council also appointed Arthur as Sabah Barisan chairman.
Sabah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Hasnol Ayob was appointed the state Barisan secretary.
The Barisan supreme council thanked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for appointing Jafry as a state minister, as well as adding assistant minister Datuk Seri Anil Sandhu to his state government.
