Wee and Vigneswaran claim that Nazri’s appointment was unilaterally announced by then BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the opening of MIC’s annual general meeting in October 2018. — Picture via Facebook

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — MCA and MIC today argued that Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s appointment as Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general was invalid, as it was not made in accordance with the coalition’s constitution.

MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran alleged that Nazri’s appointment was unilaterally announced by then BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the opening of MIC’s annual general meeting in October 2018.

“In the joint meeting between MCA and MIC yesterday, it was decided that the appointment of Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was not in accordance with BN’s constitution,” the duo said in a joint statement.

“According to Clause 8.3(D) of the BN constitution, a secretary-general has to be appointed by the chairman after negotiating with the Supreme Council, in order for the appointee to hold the position for two years, and the person will be responsible for the administration of BN.”

“Nazri’s appointment as BN secretary-general was never discussed, nor received official acknowledgement in the BN Supreme Council, though it was announced by BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,” they added.

Vigneswaran and Wee said that they had also expressed their sentiment to the BN secretariat, claiming that Nazri is also not “qualified” to attend the BN Supreme Council meeting scheduled for this Friday.

“If Nazri is adamant and comes to the BN Supreme Council meeting, then the validity of the meeting will be disputed. To avoid any legal disputes, MCA and MIC will only attend a legitimate Supreme Council meeting,” the duo said.

In an immediate response, Nazri, however declined to comment on the claim, and said he was unaware of the matter.

“I don’t know, I just left a meeting,” he said when asked by reporters after attending a Parliamentary caucus meeting here.

Umno acting president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan yesterday urged for cooler heads to prevail, following MCA and MIC’s announcement that they would seek a new political alliance.

New Straits Times (NST) reported the acting BN chairman saying he will now call for a meeting of the BN Supreme Council as soon as possible.

MCA and MIC announced that they are seeking to form a new political coalition, claiming a lack of “mutual respect” from Umno within the alliance.

In a joint statement, MCA and MIC lamented that Nazri had repeatedly uttered racial remarks perceived to be from Umno, and the Malay nationalist party’s continued silence had cracked the foundation of mutual respect in the coalition.

Both parties also urged BN’s Supreme Council to convene immediately to decide on BN’s fate, saying that BN was formed to promote political unity, stability and harmony in a multiracial nation.