Urimai may back independent candidate in Mahkota polls

Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy said his yet-to-be-registered United Rights of the Malaysian Party (Urimai) is mulling backing an independent candidate in the Sept 28 Mahkota by-election.

He claimed once again that the Pakatan Harapan-led government was troubled by Urimai’s influence and support from the Indian community.

“Since Urimai is not a registered political party, we cannot contest in the Mahkota by-election next month.

“Given the massive problems faced by the Indian community, Urimai is mulling supporting an independent candidate to be selected by Johor Urimai.

“Indians constitute about seven percent of the total voters in the state constituency of Mahkota. If Urimai’s independent candidate can erode the majority of the Indian voters, it might pose a problem for the BN candidate to win the election,” he said in a statement today.

Ramasamy conceded that while Urimai’s independent candidate might not win the election, it will nonetheless send a strong message to the Madani government that Indians are unhappy and disillusioned with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

“The two recent by-elections in Kuala Kubu Baharu and Sungai Bakap were illustrative of the impact of Urimai on the Indian community.

“Urimai’s presence has mocked the farcical nature of Indian representation in DAP and PKR,” said Ramasamy who served as deputy chief minister in Penang for 15 years.

Genuine, hardworking leaders needed

The Mahkota by-election is being called following the death of Umno assemblyperson Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2 while receiving treatment in hospital for internal bleeding.

Nominations for the by-election will be held on Sept 14 and early voting on Sept 24.

Ramasamy said Urimai had the opportunity to interact with Indians in Kluang recently.

“We were shocked that local, state or federal representatives have not attended to pressing issues of the Indian community,” he claimed.

He added that there was a leadership vacuum in the community for Kluang in particular and Johor in general.

“The Indian community needs genuine, hardworking and brave leaders. They certainly don’t need sycophants or mandors in the MIC, DAP and PKR," he stressed.

He also said Urimai was considering its next course of action over its failure to be registered by the Registrar of Societies.

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