MCA, MIC to sit out state polls

Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties MCA and MIC have announced that they will not contest the state elections in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan next month.

MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon and his MIC counterpart RT Rajasekaran announced this in separate statements yesterday.

Chong said MCA would focus on preparations for the 16th general election (GE16), where the party is seeking to implement reforms.

"This decision was reached at the MCA central committee meeting today after discussions and analysis, and considering the current political situation," he said.

He said MCA would play the role of a BN component party to help the candidates of fellow components in the polls.

Rajasekaran meanwhile said the party had made the decision at a central working committee meeting on June 30 after studying the political situation.

"MIC’s decision to stay out of the coming state polls was made solely to safeguard the interests of MIC. For now, MIC will pay more attention to the process of building a more solid party structure for facing GE16," he said.

He said MIC would fulfil its role as a BN component party and that the party’s decision had been conveyed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is chairman of the unity government secretariat, which includes BN.

The BN component parties in peninsular Malaysia are Umno, MCA and MIC.

The six states will hold their state polls simultaneously, with Aug 12 set for polling, July 29 for nomination and Aug 8 for early voting.