Indian minority can have significant polls impact in some seats especially in a right race.

Every Malaysian citizen has the fundamental right to participate in the political process of the nation. This right is enshrined in the Federal Constitution and therefore protected.

It is not only our fundamental right but also our duty to the nation as responsible citizens.

Indians in Malaysia have been very active in politics both in the parties which formed the government, and also in the opposition.

Political consciousness is very high in the Indian community as some of the major civil society organisations including NGOs, trade unions, consumer associations, human rights and women advocacy movements are led by Malaysians of Indian origin.

2004 provides yet another opportunity for all Malaysians to exercise their constitutional right.Taking part in an event, which will impact all our lives in the next five years, is imperative.

Demographic shifts

There are major shifts in the demographic nature of the Indian population in Malaysia. This is especially so in the last 20 years. The 2000 census report points out that about 80 percent of the Indian community now resides in urban locations in seven states and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

An analysis of the 2004 voter registration list indicates there are major pockets of Indian voters especially in urban and sub-urban centres. While Indians comprise about 8 percent of the Malaysian population, there are key geographical areas where a larger percentage reside.

One might think that Indian voters are only marginal in numbers. However, in the event of a split in votes within the Malay community or Chinese community, then the Indian vote becomes very critical in deciding victory or in boosting the majority of any candidate.

Of the 10.2 million registered voters, 744,080 or 7.3 percent are Indian Malaysian.

They are concentrated in eight states (Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur). This constitutes 97.9 percent of registered Indian voters

In those nine areas, 27.4 percent are registered in KL, followed by 18.2 percent in Perak and 10.59 percent in Johor.

But in the states of Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak and the two Federal Territories (Labuan & Putrajaya) they constitute only 2.08 percent of the total number of registered voters of these five states added together.

Parliamentary and state constituencies

Indian concentration is in the eight states and KL, where 63 percent of the parliamentary seats are located and where 62.3 percent of the state seats are located.

It is significant to note that in these states and KL there is a concentration of Indian voters, where they comprise more than 10 percent of the total number of registered voters.

In the case of parliament there are 62 constituencies where more than 10 percent of the registered Indian voters reside and in the case of states there are 132 such seats

Indians form eight percent of the population and 7.3 percent of the registered voters nationally.

However, in individual parliamentary and state constituencies there are variations.

In Selangor alone in 77.3 percent of the parliamentary seats and in 71.4 percent of the state seats, the total number of registered Indian voters comprises more than 10 percent.

It is also further striking to note that in 35 parliamentary seats, Indians form between 10 to 15 percent of the voters, in 17 seats they are between 15.1 to 20 percent and in 10 they are 20.1 percent and above.

In the case of state seats in 61 they are between 10 to 15 percent and in 43 between 15.1 to 20 percent and in 27 they are between 20.1 to 30 percent and above 30 percent in seven.

Therefore the Indian voters should not be taken for granted as it can have a major impact and influence on the outcome of the polls in selective constituencies where they are in sizable numbers.

High Indian voters

Two significant seats to watch out for in 2004 general election are the new Parliamentary seat of Kota Raja in Selangor and the state seat of Buntong, Perak.

Kota Raja has the largest number of Indian voters 15,677 who comprise 27.6 percent of the total voters in constituency.

Buntong has 10,393 Indian voters or 45.4 percent of the registered voters there.

Another constituency that is densely populated with Indian registered voters is Teluk Kemang< Negeri Sembilan, numbering 13,485 or 24 percent of the registered voters.

In the case of Batu Kawan, in Penang, there are 9,772 (22.8 percent) and in Kuala Selangor, Selangor, there are 9, 400 (22.7 percent).

In the case of state seats- Jeram Padang (in Negeri Sembilan) has 3,783 Indian voters (39.5 percent), Perai (in Penang) 4,888 or 35.4 percent, Bukit Melawati 3,993 or 32.2 percent and Seri Andalas 10,262 or 31.9 percent. The last two seats are in Selangor.

Implications

The Indian Malaysian community must utilise the concentration of the Indian community in these selective areas for its advantage. This is the principle of survival as minorities among other larger ethnic groups of Malaysians.

By ensuring victory for the candidate of our choice we are ensuring our rightful place in Malaysian society.

In a similar way we can be in a stronger bargaining position to ensure equitable access to public services and resources, especially in the interest of the poorer sections of the Indian community.

The middle class section of the Indian community, which is often critical of the establishment, fails to utilise the political process by taking advantage of the Indian position in selected seats.

We must act strategically for the enhancement and betterment of the community and nation. As Malaysian Indians we need to come out in full force and make our mark in the 2004 general election.

Dr Denison Jayasooria is the Executive Director of the MIC-run Yayasan Strategik Sosial, an organisation that is involved in policy research and community development work among low-income families residing in high-risk neighbourhoods.