Grassroots leaders and supporters of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) have set aside their differences to rally behind their leader’s call to support Pakatan Rakyat candidates in next Tuesday’s by-election.

hindraf protest candle light vigil penang seberang perai 240808 anbalagan Penang Hindraf coordinator MN Anbalagan ( right ) said they have agreed to throw their support behind Pakatan following the call made by the movement's self-exiled leader P Waythamoorthy.

"Our leader has explained to us the reasons for us to support Pakatan candidates. Our grassroots leaders and supporters have agreed that our common foe is the Umno-led Barisan Nasional.

"Hindraf and Pakatan must forge closer ties to defeat BN in these by-elections and beyond," he said.

In Kedah's Bukit Selambau, PKR's greenhorn S Manikumar faces MIC's S Ganesan and 13 independent candidates, while ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin faces BN candidate Ismail Saffian and independent Kamarul Ramizu Idris in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency in Perak.

In another by-election to be held simultaneously in Sarawak, for the Batang Ai state seat, PKR's Jawah Gerang, a former five-term member of parliarment for Lubok Antu, will take on BN's Malcolm Mussen Lamoh in a straight fight.

Hindraf's open support is likely to swing the majority of Indian votes to Pakatan in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang.

Indian votes crucial

Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran was among the many potential candidates overlooked by PKR for the Bukit Selambau by-election.

This led to Hindraf openly calling for a boycott of PKR in Bukit Selambau. However, Hindraf expressed its full support for PAS strongman Mohd Nizar in Bukit Gantang.

bukit selambau state seat kedah 110209 Bukit Selambau's 35,140 registered voters comprise 50.2 percent Malays, Indians 29.5 percent, Chinese 19.3 percent and one percent others.

Sensing that a Hindraf boycott would jeorpadise its chances of seizing a large chunk of the crucial Indian votes in Bukit Selambau, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim had a long 'clear the air' phone conversation with Waythamoorthy several days ago.

Waythamoorthy subsequently pledged Hindraf's unequivocal support for Pakatan candidates in the by-elections, which many political pundits see as a referendum on the newly sworn-in premier Najib Abdul Razak.

Some predict a 2-1 win for Pakatan, with BN triumphing only in Sarawak.

"Whatever differences we had about Manikumar's candidacy are now over. Hindraf and Pakatan will work together for victory in the by-elections," said Anbalagan.

Thumbs-up for political party

He also said Hindraf grassroots leaders have agreed to the proposal to set up a political wing to strengthen the outlawed movement and "add more fuel to its fire."

"We agree that Hindraf needs political zeal and conviction to safeguard and boost its struggle.

"This would enhance our cause for a fair, just and democratic society based on equality, rule of law and good governance," he told Malaysiakini .

brickfields uthayakumar hindraf 280209 water cannon Hindraf leaders have indicated that the Hindraf-based political party would function in a similar political mould of India's Barathiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena political parties, which are backed by socio-political pressure groups such as Rashtriya Sivam Sevak (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Similarly Hindraf will remain as a socio-political pressure group backing an Indian-based multiracial party to enhance its cause with a political conviction in Malaysia.

In an immediate response, a former Hindraf lawyer said the movement can form its own political wing if it believes it could bolster its struggle for the betterment of the Indian Malaysian community.

Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan said it was only ideal for the human rights movement to have its own political arm if it had the ambition of becoming part of the country's mainstream politics.

However, he reminded Hindraf leaders that there was a vast difference between being a human rights pressure group and a political party.

Sivanesan explained that while a human rights movement was more based on struggle and activism, political parties were more inclined to political governance, decision-making and services.

"It will not be easy to transform from a social activist group to a political party. But Hindraf is welcomed to set up a political wing if it could help the movement's cause," said the lawyer, who is also Perak DAP vice-chairperson.