Political analysts are split on whether MIC joining Perikatan Nasional would significantly weaken Barisan Nasional’s standing.
PETALING JAYA: Analysts are divided on whether MIC joining Perikatan Nasional (PN) would weaken Barisan Nasional (BN).
International Islamic University Malaysia political science associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri said MIC exiting BN may not weaken the coalition in terms of machinery, but it may have a symbolic impact.
“BN wants to portray itself as a multi-ethnic coalition. Without MIC, it signals that non-Malay communities have less confidence in its credibility,” she told theSun.
She added that MIC may argue its move is justified by BN’s cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Madani government, which it perceives as having failed to prioritise the Indian community across three years in power.
She also said MIC is unlikely to face major obstacles in working with PAS, which is PN’s strongest component party, despite having no prior cooperation.
“Unlike the Chinese community, the Indian community is more open to PAS because PAS tends to target DAP, rather than the Indian community. It also depends on how much PAS could convince them that the rights of non-Muslims would be protected.”
Meanwhile, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said MIC leaving BN would open up more seats for Umno to contest.
He added that the move would reflect the awareness within MIC that its future within the coalition has become increasingly uncertain.
“Even the seats it currently holds are being sought after by Umno divisions in those constituencies, as it has been proven that Umno voters far outnumber voters who support MIC.
“In this sense, MIC’s departure would not disappoint or weaken BN. In fact, Umno would be able to contest seats currently held by MIC.”
In the 15th general election, MIC contested 10 parliamentary seats – Sungai Siput, Tapah, Hulu Selangor, Teluk Intan, Padang Serai, Batu, Kuala Langat, Port Dickson, Kota Raja and Segamat.
However, it won only one parliamentary seat, Tapah, which was secured by its deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.
On Wednesday, an online news portal reported that MIC had been accepted into PN.
This was confirmed by former PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the party’s application to join PN, made last year, has been accepted and it is now up to MIC to materialise the matter.
