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0.45pc who can decide the race
14-Jan-2009, New Straits Times
By Zubaidah Abu Bakar

THOUGH the outcome will not change the political equation in Parliament, the Kuala Terengganu by-election is a must-win battle for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, making every vote cast on Saturday crucial.

Even the Indians, insignificant in terms of numbers as they make up only 0.45 per cent of the registered voters in the constituency, are getting a lot of attention as campaigning moves into its final lap.

At a dinner with the Indian community on Monday, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is leading the BN charge, appealed to them to allow the coalition to continue to serve them.

The prime minister-in-waiting urged the community not to fall for the opposition's tactics, saying issues affecting the Indians could be addressed by BN through consultations and discussions.

Ponggal, the harvest festival celebrated by Tamils today, gives another opportunity for BN leaders to kill two birds with one stone with programmes at the Sri Durga Amman temple in Cherung Lanjut.
On the opposing side, de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lined up a special programme with the Indians tomorrow. PKR Indian leaders have been talking to their community, claiming they are making inroads.

Indians in the state, as a whole, have largely remained loyal to BN as opposed to their counterparts in the west coast states who deserted the coalition in droves last March.

They were insulated from cries of "Makal Sakthi" that saw a massive swing of Indian and Chinese votes to the opposition, the cause of the political tsunami which cost BN its two-thirds majority at the federal level and power in five states.

Professor Sivamurugan Pandian, senior lecturer of Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Social Sciences, said: "The demands from the Hindu Rights Action Force did not affect Kuala Terengganu Indians, where 80 per cent had voted for BN last March.

"They are likely to maintain the same voting pattern this Saturday."

There were 527 Indian voters in Kuala Terengganu and they accounted for 0.68 per cent of the 80,325 voters last March.

The latest electoral roll, gazetted on Dec 5 and used for this by-election, has fewer voters at 80,299, with Indians making up only 365, mostly civil servants and professionals.

Indian voters are registered highest in the Bandar state constituency where 167 are found, Ladang (147), Batu Buruk (33) and Wakaf Mempelam (five).

"We have been in touch with 80 voters working in Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur and they say they will be back to cast their votes," said state MIC chairman R. Suppiah.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin are also confident that Indian votes will remain with BN.

Senator T. Murugaiah, from PPP, said Indians would not be swayed by Hindraf's claims that the government had marginalised the community.

The late Datuk Razali Ismail retained his seat in March by only 628 votes and because of the low margin of victory in the last general election, MIC believes Indian voters can make a difference to the outcome of the polls.

There are no major local issues forcing the Indian community in Kuala Terengganu to abandon BN en bloc although there are grouses, mainly difficulties in getting citizenship.

Other issues include business opportunities, education, housing and employment in the civil service.

According to a poll conducted by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research by telephone on 527 registered voters -- 408 Malays and 119 Chinese from Jan 7-11, the Malay vote is evenly split with about eight per cent undecided, while the Chinese are leaning slightly towards Pakatan Rakyat.

The Malays, who make up 70,877 voters or 88.34 per cent of voters appeared to see Islam as a major issue, while the Chinese, considered the kingmakers and who make up 8,983 voters (11.2 per cent), consider equality an important factor.

In this neck-and-neck race, the Indian votes could decide whether BN's Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh or Pas candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut enters Parliament.