PETALING JAYA: MIC has requested for a Barisan Nasional meeting to be called as soon as possible to discuss the direction of the coalition.

       Party president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran (pic) was quoted as saying this was because the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had said that the Umno supreme council was only a “caretaker” of the party.

       As such, he said the party could not make any substantial decisions.

       Vigneswaran said the meeting should be held as soon as possible so that Barisan Nasional could decide on the coalition’s highest positions, including that of chairman.

       He said that if the decision to temporarily hand over important Barisan positions held by Umno was not done, he was worried that all the decisions made by the coalition after June 30 would not be valid and hence face legal challenges.

       “We are worried that any decision made by the Barisan chairman who is also Umno president would be considered invalid and can be challenged.

       “To avoid this, Barisan should determine that the highest positions in the coalition are given to any component party temporarily, with the agreement of all parties,” he told Sinar Harian.

       ROS had said that the Umno supreme council leadership could only function in a caretaker capacity until the completion of its 2021 annual general assembly and party polls.

       The ROS had earlier received the party’s letter explaining the 18-month delay.

       The ROS, however, stated that it viewed this as invalid as the term of the supreme council officer bearers for 2018/2021 ended on June 30.

       The ROS said it would look into the explanations it received as the party had submitted new information.

       On Monday, the Umno president had questioned the motive behind the ROS announcement, while asking Umno to submit a fresh application to defer its elections along with fixed dates for the polls.

       “We are concerned if the latest development is just a desperate move by the Perikatan Nasional government to pressure Umno,” said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       Ahmad Zahid said Umno would not accept demands by the ROS for the party to hold its elections this year.

       ROS director-general Jasri Kasim said the Umno supreme council led by Ahmad Zahid could only carry out administrative matters during this period prior to party polls.