KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor PAS and its Non-Muslim Supporters Wing (DHPP) have urged the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) to revisit its long-time intention to join Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying the party played a pioneering role in shaping the coalition’s foundation and should continue contributing to its multiracial direction.
The call came following reports that MIC, a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party for more than five decades, is considering leaving the coalition and joining PN.
According to reports, MIC is expected to decide on the matter during its upcoming general assembly in mid-November, after holding a series of informal discussions with PN leaders.
Speaking to reporters today, Selangor PAS deputy commissioner Mohd Shafie Ngah said MIC’s return would strengthen PN’s inclusive framework and ensure that all communities, including the Indian community, have a fair voice in national policymaking.
“MIC were among the pioneers in the national coalition. Their experience, leadership and grassroots strength would complement PN’s efforts to build an equitable and principled political movement,” said Shafie.
“True equality means sharing leadership and responsibility, not merely symbolic representation. If MIC joins PN, it will open the door to more meaningful participation for the Indian community.”
The Sungai Ramal assemblyman added that Malaysians are yearning for credible leaders who can bridge communities and uphold professionalism in governance, rather than divide society along political or racial lines.
“Our society is tired of leaders who appear only during elections.
We need professionals — doctors, engineers and capable individuals — who genuinely serve the community,” he said.
“If MIC aligns with PN, it will signal a readiness to move beyond outdated political barriers and work towards a government that prioritises fairness, accountability and shared leadership.”
Meanwhile, Sabirin Marsono, who is also Selangor PAS’s second deputy commissioner, said MIC’s potential involvement in PN would be based on mutual respect and equality rather than subordination. “The invitation to MIC is not about absorption — it’s about partnership.
We want to work with all parties that share our principles of justice and integrity,” Sabirin said.
“MIC deserves to sit at the same table as decision-makers, not in the background. PN’s strength lies in inclusivity and meritocracy, and MIC’s involvement would further reinforce that foundation.”
Sabirin also stressed that PAS’s image as a religiously exclusive party was often misunderstood, pointing out that its engagement with non-Muslim communities had long been rooted in mutual respect and cooperation.
“PAS has done a lot of work. It is a democratic party, and the rights of both the Bumiputera and the Islamic community have always been acknowledged within Indian society,” he said.
“We have more than 5,000 members in our Selangor organisation, and none of us are religious fanatics. We treat everyone with respect, and that respect has always been there. The Indian and Chinese communities are the same — we respect everyone equally.”
He added that PAS’s principles are founded on equality and justice, not religious segregation. “There is no disparity. We don’t believe in any religious segregation,” he said. MIC, which has been part of BN since the coalition’s formation in 1973, confirmed in August that it has held informal discussions with PN.
Party president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran reportedly said a final decision will be made at the party’s general assembly next month.
In recent weeks, BN chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has publicly stated that MIC is free to leave the coalition if it wishes, saying only that he hopes the party will “not regret the decision later.”
MIC had previously been part of the Perikatan Nasional government during the Covid-19 period between 2020 and 2021, when BN formed a joint administration with PN under the leadership of then–Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Political observers believe that MIC’s potential move could significantly reshape Malaysia’s political landscape, with PN gaining a stronger foothold among non-Malay voters while BN faces further erosion of support within the Indian community. – November 4, 2025