Charles: Peeved Indian voters don't need ceramah, want to meet MB

KKB BY-ELECTION | As the clock ticks down to polling day on May 11, former DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago has issued an ominous warning to Pakatan Harapan and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

“There is a disconnect between the Selangor state government and Indians,” he told Malaysiakini after visiting Kuala Kubu Baharu.

Charles said there were also suggestions that the menteri besar meet with the Indian community to respond to their various grievances.

“I hope he (Amirudin) takes up this request, especially when the community is upset and looking at alternatives. Hope he takes up the requests,” he added.

Charles said Indian voters are unaware of or have not received the state’s welfare initiatives such as capacity building and entrepreneurial efforts to address income and poverty issues. 

“The perception is that they are being discriminated against.

“Also, decades-old housing problems have not been settled (Bukit Tagar, Nigel Gardner) despite promises during every election. The people believe there is no political will. Solving the housing issue will go a long way to soften Indian anger,” he added.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari on the by-election campaign trail

Charles, who is National Water Services Commission (Span) chairperson, said the people are not interested in ceremah or events but want an avenue to express their grievances to the authorities and state government.

“It’s, therefore, time to set up a complaints mechanism and work on them,” he added.

Frustrations boiling over?

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that there is a campaign to convince Indian voters to boycott the election because the government has purportedly neglected the community.

Former DAP leader P Ramasamy, who has since founded the Indian-based party Urimai, also urged Indian voters not to support the Harapan candidate.

Speaking at an event last night, MIC deputy president M Saravanan acknowledged that there is a certain degree of frustration towards the government but urged Indian votes not to boycott the polls or cast their ballots in anger.

Indian voters comprise 18 percent of the electorate in Kuala Kubu Baharu and can tilt the balance. Malay voters number at 46 percent, Chinese (30 percent), and others (six percent).

The by-election would be a four-cornered fight between Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao, Perikatan Nasional’s Khairul Azhari Saut, Hafizah Zainudin from Parti Rakyat Malaysia, and Nyau Ke Xin who is an independent candidate. - Mkini