KKB poll outcome hangs on ‘undecided’ Indian voters

 

An Election Commission worker making final preparations yesterday at a voting centre for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

HULU SELANGOR: A question over whether Indian voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu have played a “kingmaker” role in deciding their new assemblyman will be answered tonight when the by-election results are announced.

The opposition coalition of Perikatan Nasional is expected to secure the Malay votes, and Pakatan Harapan the Chinese votes. The Indian community, which makes up about 18% of the electorate, can make the difference in the mixed seat which is evenly split between Malay and non-Malay voters.

As of Friday night, however, the community appeared to be undecided, based on checks by FMT.

An Indian community leader who did not wish to be named said Indian voters appeared to be divided between voting for PN or not casting the ballots at all, a scenario that does not augur well for PH which saw a drop in Indian votes at the state assembly elections last year.

The source attributed the indecisiveness to the tough time the community experienced with the constituency office of the late three-term DAP assembly member Lee Kee Hiong, in that “it took forever” to resolve issues affecting the Indian community.

“This has led to many Indians getting fed up with PH. But that does not mean they will vote for PN as an alternative,” he said.

The leader’s grouses correspond with claims by DAP’s Charles Santiago of a disconnect between the state government and the community. Santiago, the former Klang MP, cited the unresolved decades-old housing problems in Bukit Tagar and Nigel Gardner Estate, despite promises made during the past elections.

A walkabout by PH’s candidate Pang Sock Tao in Rasa had on one occasion also highlighted the cynicism among the Indian community, where some were overheard saying why DAP was only asking about their problems now and lamented that they were ignored by the party before.

And while PN recently welcomed an Indian-based party into its fold, the Indian community had little confidence the opposition coalition could represent their interest, the source said.

“Hence there could be a group of Indians who just might not go out to vote.”

A DAP assemblyman who requested anonymity said he is confident the Indian community will change their minds, despite the initial push back towards PH, especially in such areas as Batang Kali.

However, a division leader of the Indian Progressive Front, an MIC splinter party, was more optimistic saying the majority of Indians were more likely to back the unity government.

His confidence stems from the fact that Hulu Selangor MP, Hasnizan Harun of PN, “barely did anything” for the constituents here, which Indian voters had come to realise.

“He doesn’t even have an office here so the Indians realise if another PN candidate wins, they won’t have anywhere to go for help,” he said.

A PN Supreme Council member admitted that the opposition was hoping for a 80% turnout of Malay voters and were banking on the Malay and Indian votes as they knew they “couldn’t penetrate the Chinese voters”.

What might work in PN’s favour is that the Chinese community do not often go out to cast their ballots during a by-election.

“This is plus for us as we know if the Chinese community go to vote, at least 90% of them will vote for DAP no matter who the candidate is,” he said, somewhat confirming former DAP MP Ong Kian Ming’s take that by naming a Malay candidate PN basically conceded the Chinese vote to the unity government.

Pang and PN’s Khairul Azhari Saut are in a four-cornered fight for the seat, alongside Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainuddin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat fell vacant after Lee died on March 21. - FMT