MIC and MCA say their decision not to contest the six state elections next month was not meant as a boycott, but was instead a consensus decision as Umno candidates have a higher chance of winning the seats to be contested by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

MIC deputy president M Saravanan said such a decision had been made before, during the Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election in 2019, when the seat traditionally held by MIC was given to an Umno candidate who ultimately emerged victorious.

"A boycott should not even have been brought up… we view Umno's chances of winning as being brighter… so we give way for them to contest.

"This is about BN winning… BN winning is more important than an individual party’s win," he told reporters after a BN Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Saravanan said although MIC and MCA were not contesting, as BN component parties, their machinery would support and help campaign for Umno candidates.

MCA deputy president Mah Hang Soon agreed, saying MCA would continue to support BN candidates and ensure a BN victory in every state seat contested.

The hour-long meeting was chaired by BN chairman and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and attended by BN Supreme Council members, including BN secretary-general Johari Abdul Ghani and senior leaders of several component parties.

MIC and MCA previously announced that they would not contest the upcoming state elections but would instead focus on preparations for the 16th general election.

Meanwhile, BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir said in a statement after the meeting that the BN Supreme Council respected the decision and commitment of its component parties to ensure victory in contested seats.

He also said that cooperation between government component parties would be strengthened.

"BN has also instructed for party machinery to be prepared and strengthened at all levels for the state elections.

"BN together with Pakatan Harapan will hold a Madani Unity Roadshow and Unity Machinery Launch in Kedah (July 15), Penang (July 16), Kelantan (July 23), Negeri Sembilan (July 27), and Terengganu (July 28)," he said.

Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kedah, and Terengganu will go to the polls on Aug 12. Nomination is on July 29, and early voting on Aug 8.