Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad today moved to court support from the Indian community and pledged to assist them if he was to return as prime minister.
Speaking during a Ponggal celebration held in Klang, he said the Indian community is expected to play an important role to influence the outcome of the 14th general election.
"I pledge to you, should I become once again the prime minister, I would take good care of the people in the country.
"Surely I would pay attention to the needs of the Indian community. That is my pledge. I know you will be able to support us so that the pledge will become a reality," Mahathir said during the function organised by the Malaysian Indian Advisory Council.
He is the patron of the council.
The former premier also noted that he has not had many opportunities to address the Indian community.
In making the call, Mahathir said he expected the Malay votes to swing against BN in this coming polls.
"This government believes that Malays will support the government because they say the Malays are easily bribeable.
"But I don't think so. I think this time the Malays will turn against the present government," said the Bersatu chairperson.
"And once they do that, I hope and I expect the Chinese and Indian communities will support the faction that is trying to overthrow the government."
Mahathir also referred to the Election Commission's ongoing nationwide redelineation exercise as a tool to divide the people according to race.
"I'm sure the Indian community, the smallest in number among the three main races, will play a very important role in the coming elections.
"They may be small in number but when the contestants are split according to race, or according to party, the Indians hold the decisive votes," he said.
Mahathir was previously accused of not doing enough to uphold rights of the Indian community during his 22-year rule.
Prime Minister Najib Razak had also said he had done more for the Indian community in his own eight-year rule compared to Mahathir.
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