PKR should not play to the political orchestrations of Umno-PAS in fielding a Malay candidate in the coming Rantau by-election in Negri Sembilan.

Following the victory of Umno candidates in the recent two by-elections in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih, there are elements within PKR who are saying that a Malay candidate must fielded to offset the victory of Umno candidates.

The reasoning is simple. It might not even be racial: given the extreme ethnic and religious rhetoric of Umno and PAS and given the fact that Malay voters are slightly over 50%, the chances of a Malay candidate achieving victory is high.

Fielding an Indian candidate might not get the required Malay votes even with the support of non-Malay voters of Indians being 27% and Chinese 14%.

Even if PKR fields a Malay candidate, there is no guarantee that there will be enough Malay votes to ensure victory and whether Indians and Chinese will vote for this candidate.

Since PKR Rembau deputy chairman S. Streram was prevented from contesting the last general election, there are high hopes in the constituency that he will be given the chance.

He not only contested his disqualification, but successfully overturned the decision of the Election Commission to get a by-election scheduled for April 13, 2019 and nomination on March 30, 2019.

From discussions, there is a good chance that Streram might be renominated to contest.

He may get the support of Indians and the Chinese, and some degree of support from the Malays.

Whether PKR fields a Malay or Indian candidate, it is going to be a tough battle. The extreme rhetoric of Umno and PAS is no guarantee that their candidate will win.

The racial and religious extremism of Umno and PAS might deny Streram a sizeable chunk of votes, something to be expected. Non-Malays will vote for him if nominated.

However, with the full turnout of non-Malays and some degree of support from the Malays, Streram might pull it off, even if the majority is a reduced one.

Knowing very well that Streram might be nominated for the seat, there are allegations coming from its own party members of him borrowing money and not returning it.

However, he has refuted this by saying that he had borrowed money from Segamat MP S. Edmund Santhara Kumar and had paid it.

Whether Streram had borrowed the money and paid it is a personal issue between two persons best settled among themselves.

It is unethical and irresponsible to settle scores in the midst of election preparations.

Why bring up the issue at a time when Streram is being considered for re-nomination for the Rantau by-election?

Clearly, the intention cannot be other than to sabotage his chances of being considered for the re-nomination.

Surely, Santhara being an member of parliament ought to know better rather to spoil the chances of Streram.

Perhaps he is part of a faction in PKR that thinks that a Malay candidate might have a better chance than an Indian.

There is a bigger political scenario to be considered as to why PKR needs to reconsider Streram or any other suitable Indian candidate.

There are not too many electoral seats in the country that have sizeable Indian voters, let alone seats with an Indian majority.

If a majoritarian approach is adopted, whether under the impact of Umno- PAS and its brand of politicking or not, then Indian candidates cannot be nominated in any constituencies, with the exception of the state constituency of Buntong in Ipoh, where Indians are slightly over 50%.

Those who are advocating the nomination of a Malay candidate in Rantau are unwittingly buying into the argument that it is better to field a Malay candidate since the Malays are in the majority.

Moreover, those who are advocating this argument think that by fielding a Malay candidate, they can reduce the influence of Umno-PAS’s racial and religious rhetoric.

The argument in favour of a Malay candidate in Rantau seems to have veered away from the multiracial approach of PKR, or for that matter, Pakatan Harapan.

If Umno and PAS are going to determine the future political trajectory of this country, then non-Malays have no role in the political process.

Whether in the by-elections or in general elections, majoritarian impulses must be curbed for the betterment of the society as a whole. – March 11, 2019.

* Ramasamy Palanisamy reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.