Who will the Indians vote for in KKB polls?

7,273 Indian voters will be casting their ballots in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election tomorrow.

(FMT) – On most days in Kuala Kubu Baharu, the weather is unpredictable: extreme heat in the morning gives way to heavy rain in the afternoon, at times throwing a spanner in the works of daily routines.

“The weather is uncertain nowadays, just like how we feel about who we will vote for,” said S Gopal in jest.

S Gopal.

Gopal, who owns a sundry shop in Estet Kerling, is one of 7,273 Indian voters in the Kuala Kubu Baharu constituency who will be casting their ballots in tomorrow’s by-election.

Once, the community’s vote was said to be solidly behind Pakatan Harapan (PH). However, this time around, the Indians who make up 18% of the electorate in the area may be more open to change.

“The Indian folks are disappointed. The previous elected representative never visited us here to understand our issues,” Gopal told FMT.

He also said that the community had been affected by an incident late last year where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim used a word considered as a racial slur.

“No matter how many promises he makes, the Indian community won’t support him. Maybe they (PH) can win this by-election, but in the upcoming general election, many Indians will reject the ruling party,” he added.

He said the increasing cost of living remained unaddressed by the Madani government, citing the example of estate residents in his area who were forced to incur debt with shops, even for basic necessities like rice.

“Our businesses are not doing well. People can’t afford to buy because prices are soaring. Some residents are even in debt, but they somehow manage to pay it back,” he said.

He also spoke of talk among the estate residents of a reluctance to vote. He said some were disillusioned with PH but lacked confidence in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate.

“The average Indian here says they don’t want to go out and vote. Even if they do, they’ll spoil their vote. PN doesn’t come here at all, so we don’t know who their representatives are.

“We don’t know what their agenda is. We only see their flags here, and even then, they put them up at 2am or 3am, then quickly dash off. When we wake up, the flags are already there,” he said, pointing towards the front of his shop.

For some, unity government still the prime choice

S Indra, on the other hand, said life was better now than it used to be, and that she would still vote for the candidate from the unity government.

“There will be no change in my vote, I’ll vote for the same party. My children will do the same,” said the 63-year-old mother of eight.

“We (the Indian community) are not sidelined, they’ve been assisting us.”

But Indra, who has lived in employer-provided quarters for over 30 years, wants the government to facilitate affordable home ownership for the Indian community, most of whom still live in estate areas.

“I want my own house, a house that I can afford at RM300 to RM400 per month. If it’s expensive, we can’t afford it because we work on the estate. Now, my son is also working on the estate, he’s 40 years old.

“We can only stay at estate houses for up to 60 years. In another 20 years, we will have to leave.”

For M Janaki, 41, reports that the Indian community has been sidelined are unfounded as her life has improved steadily since she settled in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

“I’ve heard people saying that under the current government, Indians are oppressed, sidelined, but I personally don’t feel that way.

“We vote for the same party so that it’s easy to (continue) to receive assistance. So far, PN hasn’t provided any help,” she said.