He said the matter has been discussed with the party’s central working committee recently.

“We (MIC) really don’t have any issue. If there is a need for a Muslim candidate in a constituency for certain reasons, we are prepared because we have Indian Muslim candidates who can contest.

“As long as the seats are MIC (traditional) seats, we will contest, we will decide who contests,” he told reporters after attending a breaking of fast event here tonight. MIC deputy president M Saravanan was also present at the event.

Vigneswaran said MIC would not only ensure the rights of Indians, but would continue to protect and assist the Indian Muslim community in the country.

He said the party had never sidelined the Indian Muslim community as claimed by others. He gave an assurance that Indian Muslim children would have the same rights to scholarships and loans by Maju Institute of Educational Development, an entity owned by MIC.

He would also work to resolve the nationality issues of Indian Muslims who have yet to possess identification cards.

On the decision by Umno and Barisan Nasional to contest GE15 on its own, Vigneswaran said MIC had agreed to it and was ready to cooperate with other parties after GE15 should there be any party willing to join BN.

In the 2018 general election, MIC contested nine parliamentary seats but won only in Tapah, Perak, and Cameron Highlands, Pahang. The other seats were Sungai Siput, Perak; Sungai Buloh, Hulu Selangor, Kapar and Kota Raja (Selangor); Port Dickson (Negeri Sembilan); and Segamat (Johor).