MIC President Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran has established that the party intends to revisit its application to join Perikatan Nasional following a change in the coalition’s leadership.
Vigneswaran explained that the initial application was submitted when Perikatan Nasional was led by Bersatu under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
With the coalition now headed by PAS, he said it is necessary to bring the matter back to the grassroots for discussion to ensure that any decision reflects the current leadership structure.
“The Supreme Council meeting agreed that last year’s general assembly decision was made based on Perikatan Nasional being led by Bersatu. Since it is now led by PAS, it is not that MIC has any objection, but it must be taken back to the grassroots because of the change in leadership,” Vigneswaran told reporters after officiating the Commonwealth Legal Education Association Conference 2026 at Universiti Malaya on Thursday.
He emphasised that the decision to reconsider is not a reflection on PAS as an “extremist religious party” but a procedural step to align party decisions with members at the ground level.
“It is not about whether the party is extremist or not; it is solely due to the leadership change. We do not want decisions taken that contradict the views of our grassroots members,” he said.
Vigneswaran added that MIC plans to hold meetings at the division and state liaison body levels within the next two to three months to determine the party’s current stance.
“After making decisions at the top level, it needs to be agreed upon at the grassroots. That is why the Supreme Council decided it should be brought back to the state divisions for proper deliberation,” he said.
The remarks come as Perikatan Nasional Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan confirmed that MIC had initially applied to join the coalition via Vigneswaran in a letter addressed to Muhyiddin on 15 November last year.
Takiyuddin, who also serves as PAS Secretary-General, underscored that the submission was made under the previous leadership structure. - April 2, 2026
