Urimai to urge Indian voters to snub PH candidate in Kuala Kubu Baharu polls

Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy says the by-election is an opportunity for Indian voters to assert their political influence and demand better treatment.

(FMT) – Urimai says it will advise voters against supporting the DAP candidate fielded by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in next month’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, citing dissatisfaction with the unity government’s treatment of the Indian community.

P Ramasamy, who leads the Indian-based party, said Urimai did not discourage voters from democratic practices.

“Urimai doesn’t believe in asking voters to refrain from exercising their democratic rights. However, it will ask the voters, especially the Indians, not to vote for the PH-DAP candidate,” he said in a statement.

The former Penang deputy chief minister said voters could decide without influence since Urimai has no formal or informal ties with the opposition, Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“If the voters prefer the PN candidate, it is up to them to vote for the candidate.

“Urimai’s primary task is to teach a painful lesson to the PH-led Madani government,” he said.

Yesterday, FMT reported DAP’s Banting assemblyman V Papparaidu claiming that certain groups were going to the ground in Kuala Kubu Baharu to urge Indian voters to boycott the upcoming by-election.

Papparaidu said he was informed that certain Indian leaders were involved in door-to-door activities in the constituency.

He added they were opposition-friendly, and that their actions were “unacceptable”.

Kuala Kubu Baharu, a seat in the Selangor state assembly, has a mixed electorate comprising 46% Malay, 30% Chinese and 18% Indian voters.

The seat had been represented by an ethnic Chinese assemblyman since 2004. The incumbent for the last three terms was Lee Kee Hiong of DAP, who recently died of cancer. The by-election will be held on May 11.

Ramasamy, who previously said that Indian support would be tested during the by-election, called on Indian voters to assert their political influence and demand better treatment from the government.

He said there had been growing frustration among Indian voters over unmet promises and perceived insults from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He also suggested that the by-election’s outcome would provide insight into how Indians might vote in future elections.

“No government or political coalition should take the Indians for granted based on their numerical weakness or their weak economic base. As they say, every dog has its day,” he said.

“Indians should wake up and teach the Madani government a painful lesson.”