DPM tells MIC to thrash out grievances with Najib- Malaysiakini

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today urged MIC to discuss its grievances directly with the prime minister instead of going public on its threat to withdraw its ministers from the new cabinet.

He also reminded MIC, a long-time Barisan Nasional coalition partner, to respect Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's prerogative in naming his cabinet.

"If they have any dissatisfaction, they should be meeting the prime minister personally," he told reporters today after handing over his old ministerial duties as the minister of international trade and industry to Mustapa Mohamed.

"In BN, we work with the spirit of BN. They (MIC) must uphold the principles of the PM having his prerogative.

"In any event, the cabinet has been named and formed... we should just accept it.

"We should give the chosen ministers the chance to shoulder the responsibility, and after all they had already taken their oath of office," he added.

Muhyiddin was reacting to a Malaysiakini report on Saturday that MIC was mulling withdrawing from the cabinet.

A party insider said that MIC, especially its president S Samy Vellu, was upset with a number of unresolved issues.

The party will however continue to remain in the ruling BN coalition.

Second ministerial post rejected

The party is believed to be unhappy with Najib's decision in not giving it a senior ministry and a second ministerial post.

Party secretary-general S Subramaniam is MIC's sole full minister overseeing the human resources portfolio. During Samy Vellu's days in the cabinet, he was the works minister.

There are two other deputy ministers - M Saravanan is the deputy federal territories minister and SK Devamany at the Prime Minister's Department.

It is learnt that Samy Vellu had wanted another ministerial post for the party and sources say that the party president had wanted that post to be given to vice-president S Sothinathan.

Samy Vellu has not commented on the matter but other senior party leaders have said that the pullout was not debated and decided by top party leaders.

The party will be holding its central working committee meeting on Thursday where Samy Vellu is expected to break his silence over the matter.

Muhyiddin meanwhile said that the issue of MIC pulling out of BN or its unhappiness over the cabinet need not be discussed at a BN meeting.

"This can be resolved with them meeting the PM," he said.

"Whatever dissatisfaction they have, it's better to go and see the prime minister and there's no need to make public statements on the matter," he added.