Zahid, who is also Umno president, said he believes MIC will make a “wise decision” during its annual general meeting (AGM) next month and hopes that it will not make a decision that the party will later regret, Bernama reported.

“We are open (to it). BN used to have 14 component parties, and there was no compulsion (for any party) to join or leave BN,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying at an event in Shah Alam today.

The deputy prime minister was asked by reporters if BN was prepared for MIC’s potential departure.

Both MIC and MCA are reportedly considering leaving BN, citing dissatisfaction with their position in the unity government.

In July, MIC said it felt like an “unwanted guest” while deputy president M Saravanan claimed MIC was “cheated” of a promised Cabinet post after the 15th general election.

Zahid previously said he had met MIC and MCA leaders two to three times last week, as questions lingered over the parties’ future in BN, but MIC president SA Vigneswaran expressed surprise as he had no knowledge about this.

On MIC’s decision not to invite him to its AGM, Zahid said such situations were normal.

“This is not the first time (MIC has not invited the BN chairman) because this AGM, they want to resolve internal issues.

“Of course, we (BN) will give them all the space to settle these matters,” he said.