KAJANG: Pakatan Rakyat is aiming for higher number of Indian votes in the Kajang by-election compared to votes received from the community in the constituency at the 13th general election last year.
“We are confident of improving the number of Indian votes this time. Generally, throughout the state we received 65% to 70% of the Indian votes,” said state exco Elizabeth Wong, who is also caretaker state assemblywoman of Kajang.
She said this after the launch of PKR’s election machinery centre for Kajang town in Taman Saga Emas. PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PKR candidate for Kajang, launched the centre.
Elizabeth is currently Bukit Lanjan state assemblywoman and state exco for tourism, consumer affairs and environment.
Yesterday national news agency, Bernama reported MIC vice president M Saravanan as saying that his party was aiming to obtain at least 60% of the Indian votes in Kajang.
“We are confident about garnering a minimum 60% of the Indian votes for us,” he told Bernama after meeting with the party’s election machinery yesterday.
The state constituency has 39,278 registered voters, of which 4,072 are Indians. Nomination has been set for March 11 and polling on March 23.
Kajang, famous for its satay, is located in the eastern part of Selangor is one of the three state constituencies in the Hulu Langat parliament constituency. It has a 342,657 population, consisting of 60.4% Malays, 19.3% Chinese, 9.7% Indians, and 10.6% other ethnic groups.
To date, Anwar is confirmed to contest in the by-election for PKR while MCA is fielding its vice president, Chew Mei Fun. The New Gen Party is expected to name its candidate next week.
Former dangdut singer Herman Tino; and ex-Umno, former PKR veep and Kita Party founder Zaid Ibrahim are also interested to join the contest in Kajang.
The Kajang state seat fell vacant following the resignation of incumbent assemblymen Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27.
The state seat comprises 39,728 registered voters. At the last general elections in May, 2013, the seat saw a voter turnout of 87.9% with 541 spoilt votes. It has 48% Malay voters, Chinese 41%, Indian 10% and others 1%.
