Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, a political analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia, says that results of various by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang, Bagan Pinang and Hulu Selangor since 2008 clearly showed that Indian support for BN had improved.
He attributes this to Najib’s readiness to engage on key concerns affecting the Indian community and that this support pattern would last through the next GE, especially with Indian-based NGOs playing an important role in monitoring the achievements of Pakatan-controlled states
The academic claims that Pakatan had failed to meet the expectations of Indian NGOs or to work closely with Hindraf, an unregistered but vocal NGO, which had been dominant in the vote swing towards the opposition in 2008.
After 2008, Hindraf split into five groups. One is with DAP, two others are the newly-formed Makkal Sakti Party and the unregistered Human Rights Party of Malaysia (HRPM) and the rest NGOs.
Of the five, the most influential is HRPM, and if it decides to take part in the upcoming GE, it may be able to split support between BN and Pakatan.
Dr Sivamurugan says BN needs to capitalise on Najib’s strong standing among Indians in that “one vote for BN also means a vote for Najib”.
To do that, BN will have to look for suitable candidates who can convince voters on that equation, he adds.
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