IPOH: Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran has remained coy over the possibility of MIC making another move to join Perikatan Nasional in the future.
When asked whether MIC was still open to joining Perikatan if the opportunity arose, the MIC president said the question should be addressed to Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
“He never said that we (Perikatan) never accept MIC anymore.
“He just said that the opportunity given is already closed. That’s all,” Vigneswaran said in a press conference at D.R Seenivasagam Park here yesterday.
“You’ll need to ask him,” he said, referring to Takiyuddin.
Vigneswaran said this after opening a Family Day programme organised by the Ipoh Barat, Ipoh Timur, Parit, Tambun and Batu Gajah divisions in conjunction with the party’s 80th anniversary.
On May 18, Takiyuddin announced that MIC’s entry into the coalition had become void.
This was due to MIC’s failure to confirm their acceptance into Perikatan, despite earlier claims that their membership had been approved.
Vigneswaran said he does not blame Perikatan for the decision.
“MIC was already geared up to join, which is true, but a decision was not made.
“We have made it clear to them that when the offer to join Perikatan was given, it was to be led by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the helm,” said Vigneswaran.
“So when there was a leadership change, it’s not that we are against PAS. No, but the mandate given to the party leadership by the grassroots is that Perikatan must be led by Bersatu. That’s what we told them,” he added.
He also said that even as the president, decisions would still have to be made in line with members’ views.
“I’m not like other party presidents, who can make a decision and go,” he said.
“I got to go back to the grassroots and the party’s central working committee.”
On whether race-based political party was still relevant, Vigneswaran said the political landscape has returned to race-based polemics.
“To strengthen the relationship between races, we need race-based parties so that we can sit at the same table to have discussions on what is best according to our needs,” he said.
On the upcoming state elections, Vigneswaran said preparations are currently ongoing in Johor.
Vigneswaran said the party was only focused on returning Barisan Nasional to power and not concerned about how many seats MIC would contest.
“It’s not about getting extra seats. Everybody must understand that it’s about winning the seats allocated and what are the best options,” he added.
