Umno free to contest on its own ticket, says MIC veep

August 24, 2023

Umno free to contest on its own ticket, says MIC veep

PETALING JAYA: MIC vice-president T Mohan said Umno is free to contest on its own ticket in any election if that would boost the party’s chances of winning.

He was quoted as saying that MIC had no objections to the proposal, especially if it involved contesting Malay seats.

“We leave it to Umno’s discretion if they want to contest under their own ticket, especially if it gives them an advantage.

“If the constituency is a predominantly a Malay area, then that’s possible,” he said, according to Berita Harian.

However, he said BN had always upheld the concept of unity, regardless of the candidate’s ethnicity.

“We always stand together with MCA as well as the parties from Sabah and Sarawak.”

He said the more important question was whether Umno and its leaders were still relevant.

Mohan acknowledged that MIC could not win using its own ticket and depended on other BN parties for support.

Mohan was commenting on Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said, who yesterday asked whether Umno should consider contesting on its own ticket in the next general election or stick to contesting on a BN ticket.

“Or should Umno contest on a BN ticket under a new alliance?” asked Azalina.

The Pengerang MP dismissed calls for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down following the coalition’s poor showing in the Aug 12 state elections.

She said Umno did not need a change in president but a change in the way it worked and mobilised its election campaign, relying more on reaching voters online instead of ceramahs.

Mohan added that he was not surprised by Azalina’s remarks and considered them her personal opinion.