THE Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) by-election has been concluded. The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition won the polls.
The status quo was maintained for both the PH and Perikatan Nasional (PN) despite the low voter turnout among the ethnic groups.
PN might have maintained the status quo and obtained the support of some Indians, but the coalition was nowhere near adopting an inclusive approach to attract non-Malays.
Without an inclusive approach, PN will continue to spook the Chinese and Indians by being entrapped in race and religion.
The low voter turnout was conspicuous among Indians in the state constituency. It is established that slightly less than 50% of Indians voted in the election. Not all supported PH candidate, a significant portion of the votes went to PN.
While Chinese voters for the lack of a political alternative, stuck to PH, Indians continued to experiment with other political alternatives.
The increased Malay support was brought about by the “bribes” offered by the Madani government particularly the announcement of a 13% salary increase (amounting to RM10 bil) for civil servants. This remuneration particularly impacted the voting behaviour of uniformed personnel, the army and the police.
The Indians were not particularly affected by the announcement of the RM75 mil housing project for the estate workers in the five estates in the Bistari Jaya area. Nor were they enthralled by the other announcement of a RM5.21 mil development project for the Ulu Selangor area.
In fact, Indian turnout was much lower compared to the state elections in 2023. In the future, Indians will continue to either boycott or vote against the PH candidates.
The campaign by Urimai not to vote for the PH candidate was to some extent successful. Indian dissatisfaction against the PH coalition that started in the 2023 state elections has continued in the KKB polls.
During the election, some polling booths recorded a low turnout of Indian voters, particularly those in the vicinity of the estates.
The pyrrhic victory achieved by the PH was clearly at the expense of the despair of the Indian community. Indians were humiliated and insulted by the Madani government on numerous occasions in the last more than one year or so.
Moreover, Urimai was right in saying that Indians should not vote for the PH coalition. The behaviour of the Indian voters might have justified the stand taken by Urimai.
Let the PH coalition rejoice over their “bribed” victory in the KKB polls. It speaks well of the victory of the unity government without the particulars of Indians.
The political war against the PH coalition has started with the KKB polls. The Indian community will forge ahead in the future to delink itself from the governing coalition that has nothing but contempt for them.
Years of sacrifice in blood and sweat have been forgotten by the irresponsible Madani government.
Indians might be poor and numerically small, but their memories of humiliation, betrayals, and insults will be fresh in their minds.
The Indian dissatisfaction and frustration with the PH-BN coalition are just the beginning. Urimai has been encouraged by the stand taken by Indians in the KKB polls.
A more detailed breakdown of voting trends in the KKB polls will be provided later. – May 12, 2024
Main photo credit: DAP
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
