(Kuala Lumpur, 1st) Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin has confirmed that the coalition has received an official application from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) to join the alliance.
According to a report by 'Malaysiakini', Muhyiddin revealed that the application from MIC, a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN), will be decided at an upcoming PN Supreme Council meeting.
"Because we were previously focused on campaigning for the Sabah state election, we were unable to convene the PN Supreme Council meeting. I have informed the MIC president and secretary-general that we will discuss the matter in detail after the Sabah election ends."
Muhyiddin pointed out that, in principle, all PN component parties welcome the MIC's joining, but the final decision must still be made by the Supreme Council. He disclosed this at a press conference after attending the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Urimai) assembly held at the Shah Alam Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) on Sunday.
At the same time, he also revealed that Pejuang, which split from BERSATU, has also submitted an application to join PN, and its application will also be discussed at the same meeting.
Earlier media reports stated that MIC delegates, at the 79th National Delegates Congress held two weeks ago, passed three important resolutions, including preparations to end relations with BN and a proposal to officially apply to join PN.
For months, the public has been speculating about MIC's political direction, with rumors that the party is dissatisfied with its status in the national political framework.
MIC is one of Malaysia’s oldest political parties and was one of the founding members of the predecessor to BN, the 'Alliance'. The party joined the Alliance in 1955 together with UMNO and MCA, and with the addition of more parties in 1973, the Alliance evolved into today's Barisan Nasional.