Thaindian News

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 10 (IANS) Malaysian Indians’ support for opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has slipped from an estimated 80 percent to about 50 percent, a senior official of one of the constituent parties has admitted.
M. Kusasegaran, vice president of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), has been quoted in Tamil journal Malaysia Namban as saying that there was need for “immediate measures” to counter the situation.

He said that about 80 percent of the Indians had supported PR during the March 2008 general election but currently the support had declined to about only 50 percent.

While the disenchantment was common to all ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese and Indians - that constitute the bulk of multi-ethnic Malaysia, the drift was heavy among Indians.

As per a post-poll study, about 68 percent voted with the PR, denying the traditional two-thirds parliamentary majority to ruling alliance, Barisan Nasional (BN).

In contrast, Kulasegaran, also a lawmaker, said that a recent Merdeka survey revealed that Indians’ support for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s leadership and policies had increased.

He said PR should act fast to resolve its problems as internal bickering would only help the Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

One of the measures currently being studied, he said, is for Pakatan Rakyat to register as an opposition coalition and contest under a single banner.

Three major parties dominating the alliance are Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, the DAP headed by ethnic Indian lawyer-lawmaker Karpal Singh and Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS).

Ethnic indians, who form about eight percent of Malaysia’s population, are represented by several parties.

S. Subramaniam, a former deputy president of Malaysian Indian Congress, has said that it is “not impossible for Indian-based political parties in the country to unite to serve the community better”.

He said MIC had played the role of an umbrella body for the Indians since its inception in 1946 “but that situation has changed”, New Straits Times quoted him as saying.

“It (unity) is achievable if we in the community are prepared to move ahead in unison, putting aside our differences and harnessing our similarities. After all, the basic and fundamental aim is to serve the community and Malaysians at large.

“It’s sad to see the Indians in disarray now,” he said at the opening of the Malaysian Indian Youth Council headquarters.

He went on to say that “as long as we are not united, our voices will not be heard and the community will not be recognised or respected.”