BN open to MIC’s departure, DPM says

BARISAN Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said the coalition remains open and will not obstruct the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) should it decide to leave the alliance.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the ASEAN Sports Industry Expo today, Zahid emphasised that BN has never imposed conditions on its component parties regarding membership.

“We are open. In the past, we had 14 component parties in BN, and there has never been any compulsion — whether to join or to leave,” he said.

He added that MIC is free to determine its political future and that BN would respect whichever direction the party chooses to take.

“Surely they (MIC) will make a wise decision in determining which coalition to join, so long as they do not regret it later,” Zahid remarked.

When asked about MIC’s decision not to invite him to its annual general meeting, Zahid played down the matter, saying such dynamics are common in inter-party relations.

“This is normal. For this year’s general assembly, they wanted to resolve internal matters,” he said.

Zahid, who is also President of UMNO, added that BN respects MIC’s decision to focus on its internal issues and supports the party’s need for space to address its own challenges.

“Of course, we (BN) will give them the widest space possible to resolve those issues,” he said. - October 17, 2025