TAPAH - MIC president Datuk Seri M.Saravanan has expressed unwavering confidence in Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the Ayer Kuning by-election, citing strong support from the Indian community as a critical factor.
Saravanan revealed that approximately 2,600 votes from the Indian community have been identified as loyal voters of BN, with the party focusing its efforts on consolidating these votes and persuading undecided voters.
"So far, we can honestly say that from the Indian community, we have approximately 2,600 votes (from loyal voters)," he told reporters during a luncheon, here, today.
He also noted that 300 votes remained undecided, while another 700 voters have yet to declare their stance.
"For now, we consider the 2,600 loyal votes in hand and are working on bringing in outside voters whom we are 100 per cent confident about," he added.
Highlighting the importance of unity in the by-election, Saravanan emphasised BN’s representation of Malaysia’s diverse communities.
He pointed out that the constituency has representatives from MIC, MCA and Umno reflecting BN’s commitment to fostering national unity.
"Logically, we should have one representative from Umno within BN to showcase not just a stronghold of BN but also the emphasis on unity upheld by the party," he said.
Saravanan added that the local Indian community’s support for BN has been unwavering, while outsiders attempting to support other candidates lacked a significant identity in the constituency.
He also downplayed concerns about minor infrastructure problems, such as clogged drains, stating that such issues were common across constituencies in Malaysia.
"We don’t see local issues here; at most, there might be one or two clogged drains. That happens everywhere in Malaysia; there’s no constituency without clogged drains," Saravanan said.
In the lead-up to the by-election, BN has been organising various community engagement programmes to strengthen its connection with voters.
Saravanan described a recent lunch gathering with the Indian and Chinese communities as an example of BN’s grassroots approach.
"Today’s programme is about maintaining our relationship with them. You can see that there are no formal invitations or anything; we just organised this and so many people showed up," he said.
Similar events, including a dinner gathering scheduled for the following day are part of the party’s efforts to foster goodwill and encourage voter turnout.
"Get ready for April 26 to celebrate the victory of the BN candidate in the Tapah constituency together," he said.
Expressing his optimism, Saravanan guaranteed a BN win in Ayer Kuning, with the only variable being the size of the majority.
"I am 100 per cent confident that BN will win. Don’t worry, we will win. The only difference will be the majority, which depends on the voter turnout," he said.
He added that the strong support from the Indian community, coupled with strategic outreach efforts, will secure BN’s victory.