AS the by-election for the Ayer Kuning state seat within the Tapah parliamentary constituency of Perak looms – with nomination set for this Saturday (April 12) and polling on April 26 – the stage is set for a critical political contest.
The battle lines are drawn between UMNO/Barisan Nasional (BN) – an ally of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led ruling government – and the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) with PAS fielding its candidate.
Interestingly, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has taken a bold step by fielding a local woman candidate – demonstrating once again its commitment to representing the working class and marginalised communities.
Though PSM may be considered an underdog, its unwavering ideological stance and track record of standing up for the rights of the oppressed speak volumes.
Unfortunately, Urimai – the United Rights Party of Malaysia – has once again been denied registration by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
This undemocratic move effectively bars the party from contesting in the election. However, our absence from the ballot will not prevent our presence on the ground.
‘UMNO, PH bashing’
Urimai and its dedicated network of supporters will actively campaign to urge Indian voters – and all justice-minded Malaysians – to reject the UMNO candidate and the PH-led Madani government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
We will expose as we did during the by-elections in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB), Sungai Bakap and Mahkota, the systemic discrimination and marginalisation faced by the Indian community under the so-called Madani government.
Key issues that will be highlighted by Urimai include:
- The refusal to appoint a single Indian Tamil as a full minister;
- The alarming underrepresentation of Indians in the public sector’
- The chronic under-funding of development initiatives for the Indian community; and
- The recent forced re-location of a Hindu temple in Jalan Masjid India = a symbol of cultural erasure and disregard.
Through videos, ground campaigns and speeches – if invited by the opposition faction – Urimai will expose the duplicity of the current government and the complicity of Indian leaders in DAP, PKR and MIC.
In past by-elections, Urimai’s grassroots efforts by delivering a clear message of discontent were instrumental in reducing Indian voter turnout despite aggressive campaigning by these parties.
MIC may believe it still holds sway over the Indian community in Ayer Kuning but in an age of digital awareness, AI (artificial intelligence) and rapid communication, the old networks of patronage are crumbling.
The younger generation is increasingly aware and unwilling to tolerate political puppetry that serves elite interests while abandoning the masses.
Urimai’s message is two-fold: First, Indian voters must deny their support to UMNO and the PH coalition which have consistently failed them.
Secondly, voters should exercise their democratic freedom – whether by backing PSM’s progressive voice or other opposition candidates who are truly independent of the failed status quo.
Let this by-election be a turning point. Let the voice of the downtrodden be heard loud and clear. Let UMNO and its allies know that they can no longer count on the silent suffering of the Indian community. – April 10, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
