A heavy shower of attention like never before is expected to fall on the Indian electorate of Negeri Sembilan's Bagan Pinang when the by-election campaign commences.

Three Indian political forces are set to vie for their votes by playing on the community's emotions without any consideration for the long effects on measures to uplift their social and economic status.

rela civil suit shooting death 130906 a sivanesan This scenario was painted by the DAP's national labour bureau chief A Sivanesan (right) who also forecast that, pulled in different directions, the community would be left in confusion.

He named the first distraction as Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, the founder of the Human Rights Party which is awaiting the Registrar of Societies' recognition.

He wants the whole Indian electorate to boycott the election as a sign of protest against the marginalising of the community by the government, wanting to walk the middle path supporting neither the BN candidate or the Pakatan's, according to Sivanesan.

He described the move as wrong as it their democratic right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Tripped up by own emotions

Moreover, a boycott will be self-defeating in that nothing will be achieved by way of changing the community's economic situation, he added.

He also pointed out that whenever there was an election, Indians being emotional in nature, fall for short terms gains promised by politicians with their own personal agendas.

pas announce bagan pinang candidate 290909 crowds.jpg The second contending force is former Hindraf leader K Vasantha Kumar who wants the community's backing for the Pakatan.

His reason being the government's 52 years of neglecting Indians, said Sivanesan.

The third is the newly formed Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party which is said to have the support of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, naturally wants the Indian vote to go to the BN together with the MIC and the PPP, he added.

"Indians are considered a very emotional community that has been suppressed and oppressed for the past 52 years. They are like a coiled spring ready for an emotional outburst at the slightest hint of injustice or foul play."

"What is needed is a change in their mindset. To be able to think rationally and think far ahead for the sake of the community's future."

Vote now, regret at leisure

"The community now does not have a true and concerned leader who can put both his heart and mind to raise the economic status of Indians to equal the other races in the country

"However, due to their emotional nature, they are always influenced into voting for the wrong candidate and later regret doing so when their economic status does not change for the better," said Sivanesan.

The Bagan Pinang state seat fell vacant after Barisan's Azman Mohammad Noor died on Sept 4.

The Oct 11 by-election is expected to be a three-cornered fight between BN candidate former Negeri Sembilan mentri besar Isa Samad , Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar and Teluk Kemang PKR division committee member Shahrudin Abdul Hamid who is contesting as an independent.

However, the real contest is between Isa and Zulkefly while Shahrudin, who resigned today from PKR, is considered a spoiler.