COMMENT | Academic Bridget Welsh’s article “State polls: Important Indian vote” is one of the many pieces she has written on the behaviour of voters in the country’s elections.

In her recent article on the behaviour of Indian voters, she asks for Indians to be taken seriously on the basis of recognition and respect.

I agree with her that in the coming state polls, Indians can make a difference in determining the winners and losers.

Although by and large Indian voters are loyal to Pakatan Harapan and the unity government, the support should not be taken for granted. There is always a possible swing, sometimes unanticipated.

They should be respected for their past contributions to the country. The recent racist remark against Indians from a PKR assemblyperson in Selangor might not go well with the Indian community and there is a meaningful presence of Indian voters in this particular state constituency.

The assemblyperson might have apologised or regretted what he said, but the damage might not be completely reversed.

The unity government anchored by Harapan is facing a critical litmus test in the coming state elections.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on a whirlwind tour of the states to ensure support for the Harapan-BN combo. It is important that the three Harapan states are won over and at the same time inroads can made in the states under PN control.

The performance of the unity government in the state elections will be an important barometer for its longevity in Putrajaya. Harapan-BN is not in a position to alienate ethnic communities that might not have a large numerical presence such as Indians.

Indians might constitute about seven percent of the total population, but they are concentrated unevenly in the peninsula. The majority of them are located in the urban areas in the west coast state of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.

This is why it is often mentioned that Indians might make a difference in varying degrees in about 60 constituencies that have more than 10 percent of voters.

In some constituencies, their presence exceeds 30 percent. This is the reason they are called kingmakers during the elections. Winning or losing will be determined by Indians hence they cannot be ignored, disrespected or even subject to racial slurs.

Not just economic issues

Anwar might be a good leader who has been in office for eight months, however, miracles cannot be expected from him. He might want to see the plight of Indians from a broader perspective especially addressing the matter of poverty.

Yes, poverty is an issue especially hardcore poverty among Indians. Anwar has mentioned this fact many times in his speeches.

Having acknowledged class or economic problems, it is expected that the unity government will come out with new policy measures if the present ones are not sufficient.

However, the issues faced by Indians cannot be merely reduced to economic ones. These issues are important, but the question of their meaningful participation in the national mainstream is equally important.

Here we are talking about their rights as citizens, ensuring proper safeguards for the strengthening and perpetuation of their vernacular system of education, their identity as Malaysian Indians, and their culture and religion.

The unity government has all the necessary attributes of a government bent on good governance.

The centrifugal forces of religion and race unleashed by PN is extremely challenging. If not managed well, it might derail the government from pursuing its much-talked-about reforms.

The Indian question cannot be addressed in a vacuum. Broader challenges of political instability and governance might sidestep the focus on Indians or other numerically small communities.

The onus is on the government in power to balance the delicate act of addressing both national and the issues of the affected communities. It is not that national issues are not community issues and vice-versa.

I call for a broader holistic perspective in addressing the problems of ethnic communities like Indians and others in the country.

P RAMASAMY is the incumbent Perai assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.