Not a boycott, Zahid says on MCA, MIC move to sit out state polls
The Barisan Nasional chairman says both parties have committed to helping the coalition's machinery at the upcoming elections.
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Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has dismissed the notion that the decision of MCA and MIC to sit out next month’s state polls amounts to a boycott.
The deputy prime minister said the two BN component parties had given their commitment to help the BN machinery in the six states facing elections.
"I do not think it is meant to be a boycott," Zahid, the rural and regional development minister, said when asked about the matter after an event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The Umno president said that MCA president Wee Ka Siong informed him the previous night that MCA was committed to helping the BN machinery in the six states.
Zahid said MIC secretary-general RT Rajasekaran also expressed the same stand.
He added that the BN Supreme Council would meet on Monday to coordinate the BN machinery and get the views of MCA and MIC.
On July 5, MCA and MIC announced that they would not contest the Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu state elections as they wanted to focus on preparations for the 16th general election.
The six states will go to the polls on Aug 12, with nomination set for July 29 and early voting on Aug 8.
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