Consult component parties before deciding on collaboration, Zahid told

Barisan Nasional (BN) must listen to its component parties before deciding to collaborate with other party coalitions if it fails to form a majority government after the 15th General Election (GE15).

(NST) – MIC vice-president Datuk T. Muruhgiah said that he hoped the party’s chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would listen to each component parties – Umno, MIC, MCA and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) – first.

“Before our president (Vigneswaran) attends the meeting (with BN top leaders), he would discuss it with us first. He would usually ask for our views before raising the matter to the BN leaders.

“BN comprises four parties which are MCA, MIC, PBRS and also Umno. Let the top leadership of BN decide after listening to us,” he said.

Muruhgiah, who is also the Teluk Intan parliament seat candidate, told this to reporters after launching his manifesto near Teluk Intan BN Service Centre here, last night.

He was commenting on Ahmad Zahid who said that BN is open to collaborating with any party or coalition, not only with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

When asked if MIC would launch its manifesto for the Indian community, Muruhgiah said it would be done soon.

“We need to have a national-level manifesto for the Indian community. But for me, I am not focusing on one race only; every race matters to enjoy the development that we will bring in,” he added.

In the last general election, MIC had underlined four main thrusts in their election manifesto for the community.

The first thrust was to fulfil the basic needs of the community; the second was to realise the potential of each Malaysian Indian child. Meanwhile, the third thrust was to increase the income and wealth of the community and the fourth was to increase social participation.