KUALA LUMPUR: MIC secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran has criticised the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the coalitions and parties in the unity government, describing it as a "disgrace to parliamentary democracy".
Rajasekaran, who is also a BN Supreme Council member, said it was his personal stand and demanded that the MoU be rejected as it was formulated without transparency.
"It is my belief that the MoU is not legally binding for the members of parliament and should be disregarded.
"It is a disgrace to a democratically elected Parliament and will make Malaysia a disgrace in the eyes of the world if it is enforced," he said in a statement.
In response to a question on how Tapah MP M. Saravanan would vote in the motion of confidence for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow, Rajasekaran noted that his personal views would not impact his party colleague's vote.
Saravanan is MIC deputy president and the party's sole representative in the Dewan Rakyat.
As for the BN Supreme Council, Rajasekaran said it met on Nov 22 and made a clear decision that it would neither support Pakatan Harapan nor Perikatan Nasional, but would instead act as an opposition force following the outcome of the recent general election.
According to the MoU, MPs who fail to adhere to party instructions and vote against the prime minister or the government will be deemed to have resigned as an MP.
This was among the contents of the MoU signed by leaders of the unity government's coalitions and parties, comprising Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Warisan.
The MoU stated that should MPs from the coalitions and parties go against party lines, their seats would be vacated, as per Article 49A(1) of the Federal Constitution.