Boycotting polls will make Indians 'untrustworthy' - Saravanan

 

KKB BY-ELECTION | A boycott campaign among Indian voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu will further weaken the position of the community in Malaysian politics, says MIC deputy president M Saravanan.

Saravanan added that such a stand would also create the perception that the community is “untrustworthy”.

“As a voter, a stand needs to be taken on whether to support here or there. A boycott is not a good thing and it is a wrong stand.

“Further, these voters will not be trusted by any political party.

“For me, in politics, being uncommitted to anything is a sin. You have to be on one side, either there or here. If you still want to boycott, the community will end up being neglected,” he told reporters in Antara Gapi, Hulu Selangor.

The former human resources minister was asked to comment on a boycott campaign said to be a lesson to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.

Initiators of the campaign previously said Anwar should be “stabbed” for not fulfilling promises made to the Indian community.

This was in reference to an earlier assertion by the prime minister that the Indian community could “stab” him if he neglected them.

MIC targets 3k votes for Harapan

Meanwhile, Saravanan said that MIC is targeting more than 3,000 Indian voters to cast their ballots for Pakatan Harapan in the ongoing by-election.

“There are reports saying that Indian voters are the determinants of victory in this by-election. The people do have high hopes for the government today and there are (only) a few who are not satisfied.

“Leaders on the campaign trail had to answer questions raised about the government. However, MIC has now redoubled its campaign.

“MIC’s target is to at least bring 3,000 voters out of a total of 7,500 Indian voters who are eligible to vote in the by-election,” he said.

Kuala Kubu Baharu is a mixed seat with a breakdown of Malay voters (46 percent), Chinese (30 percent), Indian (18 percent), and others (six percent).

The by-election will see a four-cornered contest between Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Pang Sock Tao (Harapan), Hafizah Zainuddin (PRM), and Nyau Ke Xin (independent).

The poll was held following the death of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Election Commission has set polling day on May 11 and May 7 for early voting. - Mkini