KUALA LUMPUR – The unity government should shift its focus towards the Indian community, which played a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the recent state polls, said Senator Datuk C. Sivarraajh.
While the government maintained the status quo in the recent state polls, the former MIC vice president pointed out that the election results also demonstrated Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) success in consolidating its influence in Pakatan Harapan (PH) strongholds such as Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan.
Sivarraajh noted that PH experienced a decline of approximately 15% in support from the Indian community. In contrast, the Indian community’s support for PN increased by 21%.
Given that the community constitutes more than 10% of the voters in 76 state seats across PH’s strongholds, Sivarraajh said the unity government should promptly begin implementing its stated commitments.
“This development requires due attention and consideration from the unity government leadership, so that the people’s confidence towards it remains until the end of the term,” he said in a statement.
“It is time for the leadership to consider affirmative steps which could help empower the people’s confidence towards the unity government.”
Touching on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s response to a student’s question on meritocracy recently, Sivarraajh said Anwar’s reply to her significantly undermined the Indian community’s confidence in the coalition prior to the state polls.
Sivarraajh stated that the response from the Pakatan Harapan chairman seemed to suggest that the community’s support was not taken seriously, a stance that he argued contradicted the unity government’s professed dedication to assisting them.
To address this “confidence crisis,” Sivarraajh recommended tackling several issues, including enhancing opportunities for placement within higher education institutions, establishing robust support systems for small and medium-sized Indian enterprises, and promoting comprehensive empowerment of the community.
These actions, he said, could help restore trust in the coalition.
“The issues raised are not complicated or require spending billions of ringgit, but are only basic issues which require clear directions from the unity government leadership.
“I am confident that the Indian community’s support pattern will not shift to PN, but at the same time, the leadership cannot take the Indian community’s agenda for granted anymore,” he said. – August 15, 2023