THE Barisan Nasional supreme council will deliberate over MCA and MIC’s decision not to contest in the state elections at its meeting on July 10, coalition chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said MCA president Wee Ka Siong informed him last night about the party opting to sit out the polls.

The deputy prime minister said he had also read the statementof MIC secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran on the party’s resolution not to field candidates in the elections.

“As BN chairman, I respect the decision made by the two component parties. However, we will further discuss the matter at the supreme council meeting on July 10,” he told reporters this morning after attending a Rural Ministry event in Putrajaya.

Zahid declined to comment on whether BN will persuade the two components to rethink their option.

He said MCA and MIC were allocated seats to contest in the state polls but BN will keep the seats if the two parties chose to give them up.

Zahid did not say how many seats were allotted to the two parties.

“They have also given their commitment to continue to cooperate and will campaign during the polls.

“There is no problem in our relationship with MCA and MIC; they will help to campaign. It’s just that they have decided to sit out the polls,” he said.

Yesterday, MCA and MIC said they would not be taking part in the elections to be held in six states on August 12.

MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said the party’s central committee made the call.

“This decision was reached after in-depth discussion and analysis, as well as taking into account the current political situation, where the party will carry out reforms.

“During this period, MCA will focus more on preparing for the (next) general election,” Chong said in a statement after the meeting.

In a separate statement, MIC secretary-general Rajasekaran said the party’s central working committee had decided the party would not take part in the elections.

He said the decision was made at a June 30 meeting.

BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan recently announced that seat arrangements for the polls had been finalised. But Rajasekaran denied this was discussed by the BN supreme council.

“We have conveyed our decision to the prime minister as chairman of the Madani government. We will use this opportunity to prepare our infrastructure for the (next) general election,” he said. – July 6, 2023.