BN COALITION parties MCA and MIC will continue to support the current government, as agreed by Barisan Nasional last year, said the component party leaders.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the party’s stance will not change as long as the decision by BN is maintained.

“MCA has taken a firm stand with regard to the decision made by BN last year, which is to remain supportive of the current government.

“As long as the decision remains, we feel obliged to make this announcement together with our comrades in BN.

“And we will stick together and prioritise the people. We (will) manage the Covid-19 issue, and eventually the people will decide,” Wee said when appearing in a press conference with 20 other BN MPs.

MIC deputy president M. Saravanan also took a similar stance, saying that the party is standing by the position agreed to by the party’s supreme council and the BN leadership.

“MIC and MCA remain in line with BN’s decision because we have been given the opportunity to contest under the BN logo. So, all decisions must be made at the BN (coalition) level, that is to continue our support to the government.

“Secondly, we have decided not to work with DAP, Bersatu, and PKR,” Saravanan said.

He added that retracting support from the government will only confuse leaders and supporters as BN only controls 41 parliamentary seats at the moment.

“So with only 41 seats, what is our direction? This is a question that I as an elected representative need to explain to party members,” Saravanan said.

He also pointed out that no party has the numbers to form a government at the moment, and that uncertainty will follow if BN were to withdraw from government now.

“So, when BN comes out, the government will collapse. No party has enough MPs to form a government. What will happen?” he said.

He appeared with Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who announced the names of 31 BN MPs who remain supportive of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government. 

Ismail announced that he and a group of 30 other BN MPs will not rescind their support as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has allowed the government to continue running the administration until its legitimacy in Parliament is tested and determined in September.

The group made its public appearance after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ordered all the party’s MPs to reject PN and resign from the government. – August 6, 2021.