Ex-MP: Kayveas has zero impact, not a threat to BN

CAMERON POLLS | MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh has dismissed the claim that supporters of M Kayveas could pose a threat to BN in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

According to him, Kayveas, who is supporting Pakatan Harapan, would have zero impact on the outcome.

He also accused the former MyPPP president of seeking cheap publicity with statements claiming that he is a force to be reckoned with.

“At most, there are only 500 to 600 MyPPP members in Cameron Highlands and these were registered by the anti-Kayveas faction,” he told Malaysiakini.

On Jan 14, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had de-registeredMyPPP over the infighting between the camps led by Kayveas and Maglin D' Cruz.

Kayveas, who is a former BN deputy minister, had announced that he would be contesting in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

However, he later pledged his support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Sivarraajh, who was the former Cameron Highlands MP, conceded that Harapan has an edge with regard to Indian voters in the parliamentary seat.

“In my opinion, there are Indian voters who are BN supporters and those who are Harapan supporters. But the disappointment that it is not a MIC candidate who is contesting this time around will give Harapan an advantage,” he added.

However, Sivarraajh (photo) acknowledged that fielding BN direct candidate Ramli Mohd Nor was the best move under the current circumstances.

“We must admit that Indian voters comprise only 14 percent of the electorate. The chances of winning the seat with a new face from MIC would have been slim,” he added.

Sivarraajh urged the Indian voters in Cameron Highlands to make a wise choice in Saturday's polls.

“Their main concern for them is the land issues. By voting for BN, the BN state government of Pahang would be able to resolve their problems,” he added.

In the last general election, Sivarraajh won the seat with a majority of 587 votes against his nearest contender, Pakatan Harapan's M Manogaran, in a five-way tussle.

Last November, the Election Court declared the results null and void due to corrupt practices, paving the way for the by-election.

Harapan is fielding Manogaran again. This would be his third attempt to wrest the seat from BN. Apart from Ramli, he would also be facing two independent candidates. - Mkini