KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): MCA and MIC remain as component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN), along with UMNO, BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said today.

He said an MCA-approved resolution to dissolve BN was tabled at the BN Supreme Council meeting held here today but there was no consensus decision on the matter.

“MCA and MIC remain BN component members, very much intact, but we take note of all the issues that we have to address,” Mohamad, who is also UMNO deputy president, told a press conference after chairing the BN meeting.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and MIC president Tan Sri S A Vigneswaran were also present at the press conference.

MCA had approved a resolution at its annual general assembly last year suggesting that the BN Central Committee be empowered to begin the process of dissolution of the BN and form a new alliance.

Then, several days ago, MCA and MIC, in a joint statement, indicated they wanted to leave the BN and that they would make the final decision after today’s BN meeting.

Mohamad said that in accordance with the BN charter, all decisions of the coalition must be secured by consensus and not executed unilaterally, and this was agreed to by all the three component parties.

He also said that the three parties agreed with an MCA resolution for the BN to be streamlined in accordance with the current requirements.

As such, he said, a technical committee will be set up soon to look into the matter and he did not rule out the possibility of setting up BN 2.0 if there is such a need.

Mohamad said that at the meeting, which went on for about two hours, the matter of UMNO-PAS cooperation was raised and it received the support of MCA and MIC.

He said the meeting did not discuss the question of admitting PAS into the BN.

Meanwhile, Vigneswaran said PAS had no desire to join the BN and the MIC had no problem working with PAS.

Wee said the outcome of today’s BN meeting will be tabled at the MCA Central Working Committee meeting on March 17.