INDIANS in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state constituency are considering voting for Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate in the May 11 by-election.

They told The Malaysian Insight they are willing to take a chance so long as the PN candidate is ready to cater for the needs of the community.

“Why not? We can cast our vote for PN if the candidate can assure and commit that he and his party can look after the interest and wellbeing of the Indians,” said Vivia, a voter in Rasa, a district in the constituency.

The 21-year-old Vivia said there is no harm in giving the coalition a chance to prove it can look after the interests of all races, even though PN is known to champion the Malay and Islamic agenda.

“We will never know if we never give them an opportunity. My family and I are seriously considering giving the PN candidate a chance,” said Vivia, who runs a drinks stall.

The KKB seat in Selangor fell vacant following the death of its three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 after a battle with cancer.

The by-election is a four-cornered fight between Pang Sock Tao who will represent Pakatan Harapan/DAP, Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional/Bersatu), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

The KKB constituency has a mixed electorate of Malays (53.4)%, Chinese (30.5%), and Indians (15.82%). The remainder is made up of Orang Asli and others.

There are 40,226 registered voters in KKB,. Indian voters number 6,362 and could decide the outcome of the election.

Young people in the 21-30 age group make up the biggest bloc of voters, at 9,400.

Another voter, who wished to be known as Priya, said the socio-economic status of Indians has stayed the same under the PH government.

“I remember that a lot was promised when Anwar Ibrahim’s PH coalition was campaigning for federal power.

“Even Anwar himself has said numerous times that the Indians are among the poorest in the country.

“But what has he done to uplift the community? After assuming power, nothing much was done to improve the Indian community’s situation. 

“Take KKB, for example. Indians here are poor and continue to suffer from inflation, which has impacted our livelihoods,” the 38-year-old said, adding that the majority of Indians in KKB are low-wage earners.

“Actually, at this point, we are so frustrated that it does not matter who we vote for. To me, voting for PH is akin to voting for PN because in the end, the Indians will be sidelined,” she added.

“I have relatives in Kedah and they seem to be happy and fine under the PN administration there.”

Recently, Anwar denied that he had failed to look after the Indian community. He said the Indians could “stab” him if they felt neglected.

Priya said his words were nothing but a political stunt.

Vanan, as he would like to be known, said all politicians were the same. He said the Indians and their plight were only “visible” only when their votes were needed.

“Just look at the trend. Indians and their problems will only be spoken of and addressed when there is an election or when there is a need for the community’s support.

“Here, they know the Indians are the ‘kingmakers’ but after the election, Indians will be treated like jokers. Things will return to normal and Indians will continue to suffer until the next general election takes place.

“And that’s when politicians will come searching again,” the father of three said.

“The promises during the campaign can be as sweet as sugar but when the election is over, it will be bitter as gall,” he said.

He is considering boycotting the polls.

“Just look at the people currently in the government. Once, they criticised the goods and services tax, now they find it is better.” 

Vanan said DAP used to criticise Umno and Barisan Nasional all the time, but was now working with them just for the sake of power.

“Political parties have no dignity. They can work with anyone as long as (they can have) power,” he said.

Former DAP leader P. Ramasamy has been on a campaign to persuade Indian voters to vote against the DAP candidate, citing dissatisfaction with the unity government’s treatment of the Indian community.

The former penang chief minister called on Indians to snub PH was to teach the federal government a “painful” lesson.

Anchala Devi, who is in the transport business, said she would always vote for PH.

She did not have confidence that PN would look after the Indian or Chinese communities.

“My vote will always be for PH because PN is extremist,” she said.

“I don’t see the Indians and the Chinese benefiting greatly if PN wins, but we can see Selangor progressing well under PH and now with BN.”

In the last state polls in August, the PH government lost its two-thirds majority in Selangor. – May 2, 2024.