Certain groups urging Indians to boycott by-election, says DAP man

Indian voters have been touted as likely kingmakers in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election scheduled for next month.

PETALING JAYA: Certain groups are going to the ground in Kuala Kubu Baharu to urge Indian voters to boycott the upcoming by-election, a DAP elected representative claims.

Banting assemblyman V Papparaidu said he was informed that these groups were going door-to-door in the constituency, and claimed they were opposition-friendly.

He claimed that “certain Indian leaders” were also involved and urged them to stop, calling their actions “unacceptable”.

“I have been told that they are telling the Indians not to vote. How can they ask someone not to vote when it is their basic right in a democratic country?

“This is absolutely unacceptable as it is against our Federal Constitution,” said Papparaidu, who is the human resources and poverty eradication executive councillor in the Selangor government.

He also called on the Indian community in Kuala Kubu Baharu to ignore these groups.

“It’s terrible that some Indian leaders are advising people not to come and vote.”

Meanwhile, former Penang DAP deputy chairman P Ramasamy said Papparaidu should reveal the names of the individuals involved, adding that it would be “childish for him to make such claims” without backing them up with proof.

Ramasamy, who now leads a new Indian-based party called Urimai, said it would urge Indians in Kuala Kubu Baharu not to vote for Pakatan Harapan.

“We will tell the Indian community not to vote for the government as it has been very unfair towards them,” he said.

While Urimai would not explicitly urge Indian voters to back Perikatan Nasional at the ballot box, the former assemblyman said he felt that the opposition must be strengthened.

“We need a strong opposition for the country,” Ramasamy added.

A DAP assemblyman who did not wish to be named previously told FMT that the party would need to secure at least 60% of the Indian vote if it wished to emerge victorious in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

He said the Indian community was likely to tip the scales for either candidate, with Malay voters divided and Chinese voters likely to go with DAP.

Kuala Kubu Baharu is a mixed seat, with Malays comprising 50% of the electorate, followed by Chinese (30%) and Indians (18%).

The state seat has 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.