I was born in Malaysia, belonging to the Indian ethnic group, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country's total population.
My durable credence is that I am Malaysian
first and foremost, and only then do I identify myself as Indian.
Regrettably, it saddens me to witness and hear
about the actions of certain politicians who question my loyalty to Malaysia.
What is even more disheartening is that some
Malaysians have been influenced by the manipulative rhetoric of these
self-serving politicians.
Recently, I have observed numerous discussions
on both mainstream and online news platforms regarding the recognition and
inclusion of Indians by ruling parties.
Surprisingly, even the opposition has displayed
a significant interest in the welfare of Indians.
Upon contemplating the reasons behind this
sudden surge in attention towards Indians, it becomes evident that it is
primarily driven by the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election.
It is noteworthy that such trends tend to
emerge exclusively during by-elections or general elections.
Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election
The upcoming by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu
has highlighted the significant role of the Indian electorate, who make up
nearly 18% of the total voters.
Historically, this constituency was considered
a stronghold for the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, MCA, until 2013
when it became a throttlehold for DAP, which is now part of the Pakatan Harapan
(PH) coalition.
The Malay voters make up approximately 47% of
the electorate, while the Chinese voters account for 30%.
This demographic composition indicates that the
Indian voters have the potential to be the deciding factor in determining the
winner of this by-election.
Consequently, both the ruling party and the
opposition have started showing interest in Indian issues, not necessarily
because they genuinely care, but rather to secure the maximum number of Indian
votes and win this crucial election.
The behavior of politicians from various
parties, including Indian politicians who only speak up on Indian matters
during 'special' occasions like this, leads me to question if Indians, or more
specifically Indian voters, are being used as mere tools for the self-serving
agendas of these politicians.
I am slowly losing faith in these politicians
who consistently make grand promises but ultimately have no desire to meet the
fundamental needs of the Indian community in Malaysia.
They are skilled performers whose main concern
is safeguarding their own political future in this nation.
These politicians lack the insight to
comprehend the expectations of young voters, including Indian voters, who are
tired of the theatrical and unproductive tactics employed by these individuals.
This nation was once blessed with exceptional
leaders such as Tun Dr Ismail, Tok Guru Nik Aziz, and Tun Ghazali Shafie, who
prioritized the welfare of the people above all else, regardless of race or
religion.
Regrettably, leaders of such caliber are now
scarce or non-existent in this country.
There is significant discontent among the
Indian community, particularly the Tamils, due to the absence of a Tamil
Minister in the cabinet for the first time since independence.
The
Tamils constitute the majority of the Indian population in the country. I am
skeptical whether a non-Tamil Minister truly comprehends the genuine
requirements of the Tamil community in this nation.
Despite having three deputy ministers who are
able to communicate in Tamil, their absence from the cabinet meetings where
policy decisions are made is concerning.
This singular matter holds significant
importance as Indian voters in KKB weigh their options between supporting the
opposition or independent candidates.
Historically, Indian voters have been staunch
supporters of BN until they recognized that their loyalty was being taken
advantage of.
Following the emergence of HINDRAF in 2007,
there was a shift towards voting for Pakatan Rakyat, which later evolved into
PH.
However, since 2022, after PH formed a
coalition government with BN, GPS, and GRS, the Indian community on the ground
has felt neglected and marginalized, with their concerns not being adequately
addressed by the current administration.
The recent state election, particularly in
Selangor, where Perikatan Nasional (PN) has secured additional seats, suggests
a gradual shift of Indian voters away from PH.
It has been observed that prominent Indian
leaders within PH, particularly in PKR and DAP, were sidelined in the previous
general election and the recent state election.
The Indian community perceives the current
composition of Indian leaders in PKR and DAP as lacking influence and being
subservient to the top leadership of these parties.
The upcoming by-election serves as a crucial
test for the Indian community to determine which leader and political party
they truly trust.
The continuous mistakes made by the ruling
party, along with superficial attempts to rectify them, will not be accepted by
the Indian community.
The present Indian population is well-informed
about current national and international affairs thanks to social media.
They are capable of distinguishing trustworthy
leaders who can address their basic needs in the country.
Young Indian voters have become more astute and
can influence their older counterparts to support a specific leader or party.
It is essential to remind national leaders,
regardless of their affiliation, not to underestimate the voting power of the
Indian community in the country. The days of taking advantage of them are long
gone.
In summary, during this era of Artificial
Intelligence, simply using rhetoric and performing for voters, particularly
Indian voters, will not be sufficient to secure their votes.
The vast
amount of information shared on social media, as well as the influence of their
children, will play a crucial role in deciding whom they will choose to
support.
Comments