Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says KIMMA’s application to become a full component party must be approved by all existing members and formalised at the coalition’s Supreme Council meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: The inclusion of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (KIMMA) as a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party must be approved unanimously by the existing key parties and formally declared at the coalition’s Supreme Council meeting.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he personally supports the move and is ready to bring KIMMA’s application forward for further consideration, but it remains subject to the BN constitution, which requires full support from all component parties.
“The BN constitution itself says that any application to join BN as a core party must have unanimous, or 100 per cent, approval from all existing core parties. That cannot be changed.
“…but if that claim is true and they say they are not blocking it, I want them to prove it at the next BN Supreme Council meeting by making an official, written statement to accept and amend the BN constitution,” he said while officiating the 46th KIMMA annual general meeting at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre today.
Also present were BN secretary‑general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, KIMMA president Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader, senior leaders of component parties, Friends of BN, and 938 delegates from 95 divisions nationwide.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO president, said every political organisation is driven by ideals rooted in loyalty, as shown by KIMMA, whose allegiance as an allied party to UMNO and BN has never been in question over its 50 years of existence.
“I don’t want one thing said in a media statement… another thing in a speech, and yet something else in meetings. We must have loyalty… the same behind the scenes, the same in front of everyone, the same during the day and night.
“KIMMA president, please trust me. I will carry this out on the condition that they confirm it in the BN Supreme Council. Any resolution, if there is one, must be stated during the BN Supreme Council meeting, and I want them to propose that KIMMA be accepted as a full BN member.
The Deputy Prime Minister also urged allied partners to avoid “opportunistic politics” and not betray the trust given, especially as the country’s political situation stabilises.
He cited the history of several political organisations that had betrayed agreements for the sake of small groups, sidelining the agenda of ummah unity and national interests.
At the same time, Ahmad Zahid also said BN is ready to ‘reconcile’ by readmitting members who were previously expelled or suspended, in line with the Rumah Bangsa UMNO concept, which was set up to reunite the party’s strength.
He also urged KIMMA and other component parties to give younger generations more space to assume leadership and ensure the continuity of their struggle.
At a later press conference, Ahmad Zahid said any rule changes, if agreed by consensus, would create room for Friends of BN parties to become full component members.
He also said the eight resolutions put forward by KIMMA at the assembly would be properly considered.
KIMMA, which has 118,000 members nationwide, is an allied party of UMNO and a Friends of BN component.
