WITH DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok reportedly refused to share the same campaign platform with UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, the Mahkota by-election presents a pivotal moment for non-Malays – the Chinese and Indian communities in particular – to express their dissatisfaction with UMNO.
This election offers a golden opportunity for these voters to stand against the party that has long been perceived as a tormentor.
If Chinese and Indian voters turn out in large numbers to vote against UMNO’s candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah on Saturday (Sept 28), they could make history.
Voting against the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition would represent a significant step for non-Malays to voice their discontent while punishing UMNO for its perceived misdeeds.
Akmal’s inflammatory rhetoric against non-Malays is not an isolated incident. It reflects a deep-rooted ideological phenomenon within UMNO.
The party’s relevance has long been tied to a strategy of demonising non-Malays. There is a prevailing belief that the more UMNO leaders undermine the non-Malays, the more support they will garner from the Malay electorate.
However, the growing popularity of the Perikatran Nasional (PN) opposition among Malays calls this strategy into question.
Prioritise your dignity
While the Mahkota by-election may not fully capture the sentiments of voters across the nation, it nonetheless offers Chinese and Indian voters a chance to restore their pride and self-respect by refusing to support the UMNO candidate.
Chinese voters should not be swayed by the candidate’s ability to speak fluent Mandarin nor should Indian voters be lured by promises of two new crematoriums in the constituency.
Non-Malays are not looking for handouts or mere breadcrumbs; they seek dignity and recognition of their rights as equal citizens.
There are reports of poison-pen letters circulating in the constituency, urging Chinese voters not to support UMNO.
These letters are reportedly not from PN but from factions within the DAP who are opposed to the party’s current cooperation with UMNO who was once seen as the arch-enemy.
Many within the DAP cannot accept the opportunistic alliance with UMNO, feeling betrayed by leaders who once stood against the party.
Indian voters should also resist being swayed by empty promises of infrastructure or benefits during election season. There is a long-standing pattern where the Indian community is only acknowledged during elections but will be forgotten once the votes are cast.
As usual, MIC is playing a subservient role to UMNO with its president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran claiming that 80% of Indian voters will support the UMNO candidate – a claim that seems baseless and reflects wishful thinking.
The reality is that Malay votes will be split between BN and PN, hence without the support of non-Malays, BN could very well lose the by-election.
While such a defeat would be a setback for BN and UMNO, it would be a moment of triumph for non-Malays for they are able to show that they can no longer be taken for granted.
By overwhelmingly rejecting UMNO, non-Malay voters can prove the truth of the old adage that every dog has its day.
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.
Images credit: Onn Hafiz Ghazi/Facebook
