KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran has reportedly said that Barisan Nasional (BN) should not ask for any Cabinet positions for its MPs despite agreeing to form a government with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Malaysiakini quoted Vigneswaran as saying that this was because before the 15th general election (GE15) BN had made a decision to not work with DAP or PH chairman Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"The Umno general assembly decision of 'No DAP, No Anwar and No Bersatu' still applies. That Umno decision had also been agreed to at a BN leadership meeting
"That is why BN previously took a stand of neutrality and did not join the government.
"But BN changed its stance to support Anwar under a unity government after agreeing to the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he was quoted as saying.
Vigneswaran was however reported as saying that Anwar should be given full freedom to select his minister, and "if Anwar chooses a BN leader for the cabinet, then we can accept the position”.
Anwar was sworn-in as prime minister two days ago, on November 24 and still has not announced who will be making up his Cabinet.
However, he has said that his deputy prime minister will be selected from one of the other "stronger” coalitions in his coalition government.
His coalition government is so far confirmed to be made up of PH - which won 82 seats in GE15 - together with BN and GPS, which had won 30 and 22 seats respectively.
Perikatan Nasional, which won 73 seats, has so far rejected offers to be in the coalition government.
