KUALA LUMPUR: No consensus was reached on the dissolution of Barisan Nasional (BN) at its supreme council meeting here today.
BN deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the three parties comprising the coalition did not a reach a consensus to dissolve the coalition as requested by the MCA in a resolution adopted at the party’s annual general meeting in December.
“MCA and MIC will remain in BN”, he told a press conference after chairing the meeting here, today.
At its 65th general assembly last Dec, which was attended by 1,637 delegates, MCA adopted a resolution proposing that the BN Central Committee be empowered to begin the process dissolving BN and forming a new alliance.
On Monday, MCA and MIC said in a joint statement that they were left with no choice but to move on to explore a new alliance to reflect the coalition’s “true intentions of unity in diversity”.
“The decision made today by BN, will be referred back to MCA’s central working committee for further deliberation,“ said Mohamad.
He added that the meeting also reached a consensus that MCA and MIC would remain in BN as coalition partners with Umno.
Among other things, Mohamad said, to improve ties within the coalition and taking into account that BN was now in the opposition, a technical working committee would be formed at the federal and state levels to address issues and prepare the coalition parties for the 15th General Election.
He said the meeting also decided to reinstate Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor as the coalition’s secretary-general.
“He (Tengku Adnan) has agreed to stay on as the secretary-general until a certain date or when he chooses to resign or be removed,” he said.
Mohamad said the Umno, MCA and MIC could not reach a consensus to retain Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz as BN’s secretary-general.
MCA and MIC had alleged that Nazri’s appointment as BN secretary-general last Sept was not in accordance with the coalition’s constitution.
Mohamad said the meeting also touched on the cooperation between Umno and Pas.
“Umno explained that the cooperation with Pas was for the sake of uniting the ummah and Islam.
“They understand the explanation given. Pas is just a party friendly to Umno and BN,” he added.
On Tuesday, Umno and Pas held their first formal consultative committee meeting to discuss political cooperation and unity of the ummah.
Meanwhile, Wee said he will bring the BN decision to MCA’s Central Working Committee meeting on March 17.
“We understand that, in BN, we need a consensus and nothing can be done unilaterally.”
On Mohamad’s explanation about cooperation between Umno and Pas, Wee and Vigneswaran said they understood that it was for the sake of the ummah and Islam.
“Their (Pas) cooperation with Umno has nothing to do with BN,” said Wee, adding Pas was not joining BN and membership was not open at this moment.
“MCA’s stand is that we must work in the spirit of BN and the Federal Constitution. We have no problems working with any party, including Pas...as long as it is based on universal values,” he said.
Taking a jab at MCA’s political rival, the Ayer Hitam member of parliament said MCA’s position was different from the relationship that DAP had forged with Pas in the past.
“Unlike DAP, MCA never signed anything with Pas,” he said.
Vigneswaran said MIC understood that cooperation between the two Malay parties would benefit everybody.
“MIC is not against Pas and Islam, and is willing to work again for the benefit of the people,” he said.