Indian voters not flocking to you either, Urimai man tells PN
PETALING JAYA : An Urimai leader has urged Perikatan Nasional (PN) to engage 'real leaders' from the Indian community in order to win their support, saying they are not flocking to the opposition despite their discontentment with the government.
Selangor Urimai chief K Gunasekaran said this was evident from the ethnic make-up of the turnout at the Turun Anwar rally on Saturday, where he said rally-goers were mostly from the Malay community.
In a thinly veiled swipe at PN component Malaysian Indian People's Party, he said the opposition coalition failed to recognise 'true Indian leadership' with actual grassroots support.
'The Indian community is not happy with the current Madani government. However, let's be clear that Indians are not rushing towards PN either.
'The problem lies in PN's failure to recognise true Indian leadership. Instead, they have been pushing forward individuals who have little to no connection with the grassroots.
'At the rally, two Indian speakers were given the stage, but both lacked familiarity and credibility with the community. Their presence did little to inspire confidence,' he said in a statement.
MIPP president P Punithan, a PN deputy chairman, was among those who spoke at the Turun Anwar rally, leading the mostly Malay crowd in Tamil chants.
Gunasekaran said PN could not afford to rely on empty promises and token figures if it genuinely wanted to win over Indian voters in the next general election.
'Engage with real Indian leaders, those with credibility and proven grassroots support. Present a clear and focused manifesto for the Indian community which directly addresses long-standing economic, educational, and political challenges,' he said.
PN recently began talks on a united opposition front with the likes of Urimai, Muda, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy had voiced support for the proposal, arguing that it was not the same as becoming a formal member of PN.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Malaysia, Indonesia review JDA for Sulawesi Sea maritime dispute
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia are still studying the possibility of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to address the maritime boundary dispute in the Sulawesi Sea, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said the JDA is an initial effort to find the best solution for both countries, with no details finalised at this stage. 'It is still under early discussion between both countries and any decision must be mutually beneficial,' he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. Mohamad said the federal government continues to work closely with the Sabah government in all negotiations related to maritime delimitation between Malaysia and Indonesia. He was responding to a question from Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) regarding the proposed JDA in blocks ND 6 and ND 7 in the Sulawesi Sea, and whether it would follow the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Authority (MTJDA) model or another approach, considering that the rights of Sabah and Sarawak are protected under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Mohamad Hasan reiterated that the federal government values Sabah's views to ensure Malaysia's sovereignty and interests are protected. He said maritime boundary discussions are conducted carefully and based on legal and technical principles. Responding to a question on briefing Sabah MPs and assemblymen on the issue, Mohamad said the Foreign Ministry's Maritime Affairs Department is ready to brief Parliament members and Sabah representatives to prevent misunderstandings and slander. 'We will arrange a suitable date to avoid the issue becoming a thorn in the flesh or a source of slander, especially ahead of the Sabah state election,' he said. On the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling over the Sipadan and Ligitan islands, Mohamad said the decision is unrelated to the Sulawesi Sea dispute. The ruling only concerned the determination of a straight coordinate line at four minutes 10 seconds, based on the positions of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands, and did not refer to the Sulawesi Sea. 'Like the Batu Puteh ruling, the ICJ decision involved only the specific territory, not the surrounding areas. Negotiations with Indonesia on the JDA continue and there will be no unilateral decisions,' he said. Legally, Malaysia follows the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), which defines the baseline or intertidal zone based on the lowest tide level. 'Indonesia argues that the area is sea at high tide, but Malaysia adheres to the internationally recognised interpretation based on low tide,' Mohamad said. - Bernama
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Malaysia reaffirms sovereignty over Sulawesi Sea blocks, rejects ‘Ambalat' term
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia has reaffirmed its sovereign rights over the maritime area known as Blok ND-6 and ND-7 in the Sulawesi Sea, rejecting Indonesia's use of the term Ambalat to describe the disputed region. Mohamad Hasan, also known as Tok Mat, said that Indonesia's claim which refers to Ambalat covers parts of the Sulawesi Sea. 'Malaysia maintains that Blocks ND-6 and ND-7 are within Malaysian sovereign territory and the country's sovereign rights based on international law, supported by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in 2002. 'Therefore, the more accurate term for the area in question that aligns with Malaysia's position is the Sulawesi Sea, not Ambalat,' he told the Dewan Rakyat today. He explained that Ambalat is a term used by Indonesia to justify their claim to the area. To ensure clarity and prevent the issue from being politicised or exploited as campaign material particularly in the run-up to state elections, Mohamad Hasan said the ministry is ready to provide briefings to Members of Parliament and Sabah state assemblymen on the matter. 'We don't want this issue to be used to mislead the public, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. If there is a request, the ministry is prepared to arrange a suitable time for briefings to ensure all parties understand the issue,' he added.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Govt to begin Budget 2026 consultation Thursday, focus on MSMEs, says Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — The government will kick off its Budget 2026 consultation session this Thursday to collect feedback from various stakeholders, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said the consultation session will run until the final draft of the national budget is completed and aims to gather as much input as possible to ensure that Budget 2026 reflects the aspirations of both the people and the private sector. 'This consultation session is part of our effort to hear from multiple parties about their expectations and concerns regarding the content of Budget 2026, ' he said after delivering a keynote address at the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Nexus Forum (CNF25) today. Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. Fahmi explained that Budget 2026 will take into account ongoing initiatives, existing policies, as well as current geopolitical conditions and economic challenges. He said the budget will also align with the priorities outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week. One of the key focus areas of the budget, Fahmi noted, will be on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are vital to the national economy and play a major role in job creation. 'MSMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, contributing roughly 70 per cent of employment for Malaysians. It's therefore essential that the government understands the issues they face, ' he said. According to the Parliamentary Calendar, Budget 2026 is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on October 10. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan previously stated that Budget 2026, in line with the 13MP, will be pragmatic and practical, aimed at sustaining national progress, strengthening the economy amid global uncertainty, and building a more equitable and just society. — Bernama
