MUAFAKAT Nasional (national consensus) and Barisan Nasional (BN) should coexist together to strengthen all parties, said Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said BN will continue as there are no plans to dissolve it.

“BN will still remain and we shouldn’t speculate that it will be dissolved.

“For now, no BN leader has said it should be disbanded. If we support Muafakat Nasional then why can’t we coexist,” he said at the Umno General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told delegates at the party’s 73rd general assembly today, that the pact with PAS can be a “new deal” that includes all races for Malaysia’s future.

He said the pact is well-received by Umno’s two BN partners, MCA and MIC. 

The Muafakat Nasional pact was signed between Umno and arch-rival PAS on September 14 as a platform for the two opposition parties to collaborate following BN’s loss of federal power last year.

At first, it was pitched as the basis of unity for the ummah (Muslims), but Umno leaders are now playing it up as an inclusive deal covering other races as well.

Meanwhile, MCA and MIC represent ethnic Chinese and Indian interests respectively in BN.

Wee said there is no new alliance and BN’s spirit of closeness is still there. 

“Some people are stereotyping it (Muafakat Nasional) as a coalition, but so far it is not.

“Whatever it is, we have to take a realistic approach.

“As long as we are inclusive and continue to respect each other’s race and religion and it is not contradictory to the federal constitution.”

MIC president S. Vigneswaran said BN and Muafakat Nasional should seriously look into working as a team. 

“I don’t see a reason why we can’t agree to disagree and to work together. 

“Muafakat Nasional is about absorbing PAS. That’s what I see this as (the pact) into a working relationship with Umno.

“Umno and PAS once used to be arch enemies but now they are together. 

“If they can work together now, I don’t see why MIC and MCA can’t work together.”

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said there are plans to register Muafakat Nasional as coalition. 

“We are in the process and have to check with the Registrar of Societies. We cannot have just one party and start a coalition.

“In our constitution, we can work with any party or body as long as our principles are followed. So far there is no contradiction.” – December 6, 2019.