IPOH: There has been no discussion between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and MIC to appoint someone from the party as a cabinet minister or deputy minister.
MIC deputy president, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said that rumours about him being appointed as a Cabinet member once the Cabinet is reshuffled is only hearsay.
"That is the prime minister's prerogative. Nobody can push the prime minister to make any decision.
"The prime minister has never talked about this. It's only hearsay. We support the prime minister for political stability," he told reporters after opening the 77th Perak MIC Convention at the Ipoh Red Crescent Hall here, today.
A party insider was quoted on Oct 3 that MIC, which had often held the deputy education minister's post until the fall of Barisan Nasional in 2018, is set to be given the portfolio again when the Cabinet reshuffle is announced soon.
A portal reported that the party had submitted two names to Anwar to be considered for the posts of minister and deputy education minister.
Another party insider said Saravanan was unlikely to be in the Cabinet but would likely be offered the post of special envoy for South Asia, a position that was held by party president Tan Sri S.A Vigneswaran until the unity government took over.
On Pahang MIC passing a motion on keeping the president and deputy president's posts uncontested at the upcoming party election next year, Saravanan said he was thankful for it.
"What more important is that the party is still strong. All members support the president and want him to continue leading the party," he said.
It was reported that Pahang MIC chairman V. Arumugam said that the combination of Vigneswaran and Saravanan was authoritative in leading the party, so the grassroots wanted it to be retained for the unity of the party.
Meanwhile, when met on the sidelines, Perak MIC chairman Datuk V. Elango said they also passed a motion to retain both Vigneswaran and Saravanan as the party president and deputy uncontested.
He said it was among six motions that were passed during the convention today. The other motions included for Anwar to request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to pardon former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.