Political parties and non-government organisations from the Indian community must unite in support of the BN government as part of efforts to boost the support of Indian voters to BN.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the BN government always championed the rights of the Indian community in the country, including providing allocations for the development of schools as well as establish the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB).

“Don’t listen to people saying bad things about us (BN government). I ask that we all be united, one heart in supporting the government of the day that can help the whole nation, people and religion.

"I am confident when the polytechnics, community colleges, Mara Junior Science Colleges, many halls are built here (Bagan Datuk), I am sure they (opposition) will come. They will say this (development) is not good and only they are good," he said.   

He said this when speaking at an event with the Indian community of Rungkup state assembly in conjunction with Pongal 2018 celebration in Bagan Datuk today.  

Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk MP, said the Indian community should also support Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir for having helped them tremendously.

He said the BN government had always respected all the multi-racial celebrations in the country, including the Pongal festival being celebrated by the Indian community to prove that Malaysia is a harmonious country.

"Pongal means harvest festival. Even though there is no paddy in Bagan Datuk, we celebrate it out of respect for the various races.

“We live in Malaysia, we have Chinese, Indians, there are Indonesians whose country is Malaysia. We must love Malaysia," he added.

- Bernama