All systems go for Uthayakumar

With the election deposit paid, Uthayakumar is set to contest for the Kota Rajah parliamentary seat and the Sri Andalas state seat.

SHAH ALAM: Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar is going ahead with his plans to contest for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat and Sri Andalas state seat in the 13th general election.

“Right now, it’s all systems go, regardless of whether I’ll stand as an independent candidate or under the Pakatan Rkayat banner,” said Uthayakumar after paying his election deposit for both seats at the Selangor Election Commission office today.

A sum of RM10,000 was paid for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat with an additional RM5,000 for campaign materials, and RM8,000 was paid for the Sri Andalas state seat, inclusive of campaign materials.

Uthayakumar also explained why he is “forced” to contest in the coming election.

“We are forced to contest because as opposed to Pakatan’s promise made in 2008, it has failed to deliver even one of Hindraf’s 18-point demands.

“Even Pakatan’s manifesto has nothing to deliver for the Indians and Anwar Ibrahim has refused to sign our 18-point demands,” he said.

He stressed that at least one Hindraf MP is needed to put pressure on Pakatan not to implement racist policies against the Indian poor.

“The Indian poor need to focus because the problems plaguing them are critical,” he said.

Uthayakumar, who is also Human Rights Party Malaysia’s (HRP) pro-tem secretary-general, said that out of the 222 parliamentary seats and 576 state seats, Pakatan has refused to make way for even one seat for Hindraf.

“This is unfair. I have even agreed to contest under the Pakatan ticket against BN so that there won’t be a split of opposition votes but Pakatan has rejected me.

“If Pakatan does not make way for us, Pakatan is the one splitting the vote,” said Uthayakumar.

He assured that the opposition votes will not be split if Pakatan were to make way for Hindraf to contest.

“Pakatan should make way for Hindraf to have a one-to-one contest against BN in Kota Raja and Sri Andalas. This way, BN will not win.

“We are looking forward to a a straight fight between us [Hindraf] and the BN and we are hoping Pakatan makes way for us,” he said.

On why he chose to contest at the Kota Raja parliamentary seat, he said that it is because Kota Raja is the constituency with the highest number of Indian voters.

“At 29% Indian voters, Kota Raja is the constituency with the highest number of Indian voters in Malaysia. The best chance of winning is here,” he said.

Kota Raja is held by PAS’ Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud who won the seat from MIC in 2008. She is slated to defend the seat in the coming general election. PKR’s Xavier Jayakumar is the incumbent Sri Andalas state assemblyman.