LANGKAWI, Feb 15 — MIC must abide by the formula which has been agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the effort to resolve the internal crisis in the party’s leadership, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic).
He said the MIC leadership should trust Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, would solve the party’s problems.
“I think it is better that the formula previously agreed by the Prime Minister is abided. Follow the formula drawn up by the BN chairman and I. If you trust us, it can be resolved. If you do not want our views, then it is up to the MIC to solve its own problems,” he said.
Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chairman, was speaking to the media after holding a meeting with local leaders in the Langkawi district as well as the Langkawi Umno division here today.
He said MIC’s leadership problems would become even more complicated if the party leadership ignored what had been previously agreed with the Prime Minister.
“MIC’s leaders Datuk Seri G.Palanivel and Datuk S.Subramaniam must unite and leave this to the BN chairman and I. If the BN chairman has worked out a formula, if you have agreed, do not now disagree.”
“It is going to be difficult when you have agreed with the Prime Minister and later on you say (you) disagree. Not only disagree, but also start questioning a lot of things. It will not solve the problem,” he said.
Muhyiddin also said steps taken by the Registrar of Societies were in line with MIC’s constitution, and denied that the ROS had taken anyone’s side.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he could not imagine the worst thing happening to MIC, that the BN component party which represents the Indian community being de-registered.
He said for now, the problem of MIC’s leadership issues could not be resolved by its own leaders.
“If you leave it to MIC’s current leadership, I am sorry to say that I honestly do not think that they can resolve the crisis. I do not want to imagine the worst. I don’t want to see MIC reach the stage where it is dissolved,”
he said.
Muhyiddin said the MIC top leadership had met with the Prime Minister where they agreed to the formula worked out by the BN chairman as a solution to their problems.
“They agreed to follow the advice of the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that Palanivel had agreed on a re-election of all posts in the party, including those of president and deputy president.
The Deputy Prime Minister wanted the MIC leaders to view their internal problems in a holistic manner and resolve them without any personal gain.
“We do not want the Indian community to be disappointed with what is happening in MIC and to leave the Barisan Nasional. The MIC must remain steadfast in fighting for the Indian community in this country,” he said.
He said he and the Prime Minister did not have any personal interests in the party problems and did not support any sides in MIC, whether Palanivel or Subramaniam.
– BERNAMA
