Understanding without remedial actions is useless.It is not overnight the problems of Indians have cropped up but accumulated over 50 years.Why have they been neglected all these years?
Pak lah is also pragmatic in expecting a tough battle in urban areas.People are more educated and their expectations are high.The challenges on our political representatives(YBs) are much greater than before.
Political parties must ensure their candidates are of high calibre - honest,straight,with good morals and integrity,otherwise the voters will definitely dump them.Race and religious politics will not be enough to sway the voters anymore like they used to before.
Politicians should not underestimate the intelligence and maturity of the voters,otherwise they will be the ones who will feel sorry in the final outcome.The people are ready to demand their rights as they had enough of nonsense all these years.They are beginning to see the wisdom of having a stronger opposition in parliament,they want to deny a 2/3 majority this time.
Dr.Chris Anthony
Indians will vote against BN: Pak Lah
Malaysiakini,Feb 4, 08 12:34pm
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the number of votes from Indians for the ruling party will likely drop in the coming polls amid increasing ethnic strife in Malaysia.
Ethnic Indians protested against alleged discrimination in Muslim-majority Malaysia in a mass rally in November that led to the indefinite detention of five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
When asked if the issues raised by Hindraf, which has made national headlines, would influence how Indians would vote in upcoming polls, Abdullah told the Sunday Star newspaper: "Yes, I think votes will be affected somewhat."
Analysts say general elections could be held in March.
Ethnic Indians, who complain of a lack of job and educational opportunities, have been strong supporters of Abdullah's Barisan Nasional coalition since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Abdullah, who is also the finance minister, said he would address Indian grievances, which include the destruction of Hindu temples.
"I have given instruction that whatever grouses they have should be attended to," he said.
"As for the Hindu temples, I have asked the chief minister to let the Hindu organisations decide for themselves how they intend to tackle the number of illegal temples in Selangor."
Ethnic Indians make up 8.0 percent of the country's population. Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent, control the government while the ethnic Chinese, at 26 percent, dominate business.
DAP may field ISA detainees
Abdullah also said he expected a tough fight in the elections in urban areas, where people were unhappy about price hikes for goods and transport.
Opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang of DAP, urged voters to deny Abdullah's BN coalition a two-thirds majority in parliament to allow the "people's rights and genuine democracy the chance to flower and mature."
Lim said two of the five detained Hindraf leaders - M Manoharan and B Ganabathi Rao - who are DAP members, may contest the upcoming polls.
"It would be a good idea for them to contest. It will help focus on the injustices caused by their detention under the ISA and to highlight the issue of the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia," he told AFP.
Lim said there was a precedent when in 1978, two DAP lawmakers who were detained under the ISA were nominated and subsequently won in the polls.
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