MIC Not Against BN Proposal To Allow Direct Membership - Samy Vellu

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The MIC is not against the Barisan Nasional (BN) proposal to allow membership for friendly individuals, political parties and non-governmental organisations.

Rather, party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said, the party would assist and support Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to strengthen the coalition.

"The proposal to have direct membership will be discussed thoroughly by all component parties, in the spirit of mutual understanding and brotherhood," he said on Tuesday.

He was asked to comment on a news report today, quoting political observers as saying the MIC would resist the proposal as the party would lose its 'monopoly' at the BN supreme council when Indian issues were involved -- in the event other Indian-based political parties were allowed in.

Last Friday, Najib announced that the BN would amend its constitution to admit BN-friendly individuals, political parties and non-governmental organisations.

Samy Vellu said the question of rejecting the proposal "never existed" and the party would continue to support any proposal to strengthen the BN.

"The prime minister wants to bring in people who support the BN. He is trying to rebuild the BN and we (MIC) will give our support," he said, adding that the party had also undertaken several efforts to rebuild and strengthen the BN.

Samy Vellu said the MIC would discuss the proposal "behind close doors" and would participate actively in the discussion "when the time comes".

"The MIC's official stand with regards to the direct membership proposal is that we did not reject it at any point of time. I want this to be clearly understood by all quarters," he added.