Internal rifts may cost PKR Indian votes

Indian leaders may jump ship if they are not picked as candidates in the coming general election, says a source.

PETALING JAYA: Infighting, backbiting and sabotaging among Indian leaders in PKR could result in the party losing Indian support at the upcoming 13th general election.

The internal rift among these leaders could also play a role in thwarting Pakatan Rakyat’s ambition of taking over the federal government after the polls. The opposition pact is made of PKR, DAP and PAS.

Speaking to FMT, a PKR source admitted that there would be “major party hopping” among Indians in PKR before and after the general election.

Declining to be named, the source said many Indians in the party were waiting for PKR to officially announce its list of Indian candidates to contest under the PKR banner in the coming general election.

“If their names are overlooked as a candidate, then they would jump ship to the Barisan Nasional or quit PKR without joining anyone… they have already made plans to this effect.”

“Unlike PAS and DAP which have a long tradition and faithful members, PKR is a new set-up. Most of its members are from BN component parties. They ran from there to PKR. They ran because they were sidelined in their respective BN component parties. So when the same thing happens here, they would run again,” said the source.

He said the problem among Indian leaders in PKR is “everyone wants a seat to contest”.

“Of course, both Malays and Chinese in PKR also face the same scenario but Indians are the worst,” said the source, who is very close to the party leadership.

He said PKR Indian leaders in their eagerness to win brownie points have also resorted to “attacking” each other in the mainstream media.

Tip of the iceberg

“Some are sending their supporters to Parliament to lobby for seats. For example, I was told that more than 60 candidate profiles have been submitted for the Bukit Melawati state seat in Selangor despite the incumbent M Mutiah declaring interest in defending the seat.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. The factions in the party are heading for a showdown,” the source said.

He claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had often met party Indian leaders to get feedback on ways to boost Indian support for Pakatan, but not much was done on the ground to put the plans into action.

“But, this is not enough to woo Indian votes. The Indian leaders in the party are not united. If they are, then they can put up a strong front and lobby for votes of the community. There are several camps within the party and each camp is pressuring Anwar for seats.

“Just look at the ground… almost everyone is saying they would be the Pakatan candidate. Indians will be a major headache for Anwar in the run-up to the polls,” he added.

He said internal sabotage during the campaigning period is another worry.

“Those who do not get seats will leave prior to the election. And if Pakatan does not make it to Putrajaya, more will join the exodus,” he said.

Four Indians won their respective parliamentary seats under the PKR banner at the 2008 general election.

They are N Gobala Krishnan (Padang Serai), Dr Michael Jeyakumar (Sungai Siput), S Manikavasagam (Kapar) and R Sivarasah (Subang).

Gobala Krishnan has already quit PKR and has become an independent BN-friendly MP. Jeyakumar is with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). PSM contested the last election under the PKR flag.