ONCE staunch supporters of Barisan Nasional, the Siamese community in Kedah appear to be shifting their allegiance to Pakatan Harapan due to their loyalty to its chairman, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In random interviews conducted by The Malaysian Insight, almost all respondents cited Dr Mahathir as the reason they were ditching the ruling coalition for the opposition pact in the general election to come.

“If (we) don’t support the ’bunga’ (flower), who would we support?” said a 50-year-old housewife who wished to be known as Kim.

She was referring to the hibiscus, national flower and symbol of Bersatu, the party founded by Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir is also the opposition’s prime minister designate.

Apart from a belief that he was the best man for the job, a dislike for the goods and services tax (GST) was another reason for their turning their backs on BN. 

Kim was one of the 300 people at yesterday night’s Bersatu ceramah in Kampung Tas, Baling, where former menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir made an appearance.

She said the past few years had seen the cost of living greatly increase, specifically, the cost of healthcare.

“Now we have to buy our own medicines because public hospitals have run out. Previously we didn’t have to pay for it. We only had to pay RM1 and the medicines were free. 

“The prices of goods have increased… I’m struggling.”

She said most retailers and suppliers cited the GST when their higher prices were questioned.

Kim’s neighbour, 39-year-old Eireen, said the Siamese community was always sidelined by lawmakers when it came to aid and policies.

“The MP is always meeting people on the ground but the Siamese never receive the aid.

“If there is any, it is distributed among their own people. There are always promises, but we never get anything.

“Most of the roads in the village are not fully tarred. When they ask for it, they would pave the roads in the Malay villages but not the Siamese villages,“she said.

Eireen said the cost of living was high even in a village.

“People are always saying it is cheap to live in the rural areas but we are feeling the pinch. We could buy a lot of things with RM50 back then but these days, we can only buy rice and cooking oil with RM50.”

Support forms

Mukhriz in his address claimed 80% of the Siamese community in Kedah supported Bersatu.

“When there was a wind of change (when he agreed to resign as MB), I wasn’t confident of getting support, but I was invited to come here to the Siamese village and I was really surprised by the support we got.

“Many people have submitted the forms to join Bersatu,” he said. 

Mukhriz also reminded the villagers that Dr Mahathir had looked out for them when he was PM, such as by appointing a Siamese representative to be a senator. 

During Dr Mahathir’s 22 years in office, several Siamese leaders were appointed senators, the first of which were  former Kedah customs director Charern Intachat in 1996. He was followed by Siw Chun Eam, Boon Som Inong and Aknan Ehtook.

The Siamese are estimated to account for less than 2% of voters in Kedah, with most of them concentrated in Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap, Pendang, Sik, and Baling. 

Despite being a minority group, the Siamese vote determined the results of several contests in the last election, for the seats Sungai Tiang, Belantek, Jeneri, Kuala Nerang, Bayu, Kupang, Jitra, Air Hitam and Bukit Kayu Hitam. 

Kampung Tas village chief Cheng Din Chong said the Siamese voters might not be numerous but they were crucial in electing the government.

“The whole Siamese community in Malaysia and not only those in Kedah are involved. Our votes can be decisive,” he said. – February 20, 2018.