'Indian votes may have swung back to BN'

KUALA LUMPUR- The Indian votes may have swung back to the Barisan Nasional (BN) but more needs to be done before the votes can be considered a fixed deposit once again, said political analysts.

Political analyst, Khoo Kay Peng said the Indian votes for BN had increased from the 2008 general election but it certainly has not returned to the 2004 and previous elec tions.

“Only 35 per cent of Indians voted for BN in 2008, that’s the peak period of Indian vote swing where they were emo tionally charged. But now, with no other strong alternative or movement like Hindraf, the Indian votes may swing back,” he said.

He said there is no clear leadership in the Opposition or an iconic leader in the Pakatan Rakyat for the Indian community to look up to.

“Indians don’t feel that they are main agenda in the Opposition and their issues and concerns rarely surface there,” he added.

He said a quieter MIC, with almost no internal squabble after party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel took over, had also helped to bring back votes as it gives the perception that the party is stable.

However, he said, generally it is difficult to say that the Indian votes are returning to the BN as votes depended on the structure of the seat and issues faced by the constituents in that particular seat.

“The people in rural areas will support the party that has helped to solve their local issues. As for those in urban areas, the government need to solve bigger issues like rising cost of living, economic slowdown before they can get their votes,” he said commenting on MIC’s statement that Indian votes are returning to the BN, based on several by-elections held after the 2008 general election.

Khoo also called for the BN to be more inclusive and move from being racially-based to attract more young Indian votes.

“BN also need to have strong leaders who can look into and help misplaced minorities and come up with specific pro grammes for them,” he said.

He said the main leadership of MIC must ensure they win seats given to them at the general election as this would give them the credibility to be community leaders and to take on party leadership.

“Most of the first liners former party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had hoped to groom, lost in the 2008 election. What’s left now are the second liners,” he added.

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Siva murugan Pandian said while the urban voters seem to be stagnant, those in rural areas seem to have returned to BN.

He said this could be due to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has been communicating directly with the community.

“A lot of changes has taken place after the 2008 election and many issues have been solved with the persistence of the MIC. The Prime Minister has also branded himself to relate closely with the community and is hands on in many issues,” he said when contacted.

“The Indians are coming back gradually but the support is not as great as it was in 2008,” he added.

He said to bring back more votes, the BN should recognise the roles of grassroots leaders as they are the ones who have the right information on what is happening at local level.

He said better collaboration between BN component par ties and minimising sabotage within the MIC will also help the BN to win more Indian votes.

“MIC also has to select the right candidate for the people, not the right candidate for the party, in the general election. If the party can announce its candidates now, it can minimise sabotage by pacifying unhappy quarters,” he said.

- New Straits Times