Penang DAP is apparently peeved with PKR and is threatening to pull out from campaigning in Permatang Pauh unless the latter improves its electoral machinery.

 

A senior Pakatan Rakyat leader said the party was disappointed with the lack of support from PKR, especially when campaigning for votes among the Indian community.

 

He cited a meeting with voters in Kampung Bagan Serai in Permatang Pauh. The leader, who requested anonymity, said the Indians in the constituency felt neglected by PKR, whose candidate and president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is vying for the parliamentary seat.

 

She faces Umno’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman and independent Salleh Isahak.

 

“We feel like pulling out from the campaign. We told them about it as we cannot go on like that. PKR is very disorganised,” the leader, who hails from Penang, told Malaysiakini .

 

“Unless they improve their machinery, get more organised, and do not neglect the Indian community, we will pull out,” he warned.

 

The leader said while the number of Indian voters may be small - 4,083 - but every vote counts in a battle that is proving to be tougher by the day.

 

MIC president G Palanivel said the party would work hard to deliver about 3,000 votes for BN in the by-election but DAP national deputy secretary-general P Ramasamy described the claim as “ daydreaming ”.

 

Meanwhile, the source said PAS’ threat to boycott the by-election, which will be held next week, has posed additional challenges and this may affect the outcome of the polls.

 

Majority to be slashed

 

PAS members reportedly account for about 3,000 in Permatang Pauh, and coupled with the possibility of 6,000 voters not returning to vote as May 7, Thursday, is working day, PKR is looking at a slashed majority of about 2,000.

 

This number is 9,000 short of the 11,721 majority PKR garnered in the May 2013 national polls when PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim won the seat.

 

However, Anwar was forced to vacate the seat when he failed to obtain a royal pardon. He has been serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh for a sodomy conviction since Feb 10.

 

“And yet PKR does not want to campaign properly in Indian areas in the constituency,” the leader lamented.

 

“At least MIC goes house to house to meet the voters ... personal touch is very important,” he added.

 

When contacted, Ramasamy, who is Penang deputy chief minister and leading the campaign in the Indian community, declined to comment.

 

He is slated to give a press conference at 1pm in DAP’s Bukit Mertajam service centre, but it is not clear whether Ramasamy would touch on the matter.

 

Azizah, who is contesting the seat for the fourth time, is planning to meet with the Indian community in a programme planned in Kubang Semang tomorrow.