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Singapore: Ahead of the
general elections in Malayasia, many Malaysian Indians have come
out in support of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in
the country.
Indian community leaders and the general public have given credit
to the Barisan Nasional for providing Malaysian Indians with
shelter, clothing and education assistance, the New Straits Times
reported Wednesday.
The Barisan Nasional is mainly a coalition of the country's three
largest race-based political parties -- the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO), the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and the
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).
According to Perak Hindu Youth Organisation adviser R. Anbalagan,
the Barisan Nasional, through its actions, has shown that it
understood the problems of the Indian community.
"Financial aid has been allocated to us under the budget as well
as through other agencies,” he was quoted as saying.
"This has endeared BN to Indian voters. I can see more Indians,
including youth, giving their support to BN.”
Malaysian Public Service Society chairman Andrew Raju was quoted
as saying that older Indian voters are grateful for the benefits
they have reaped under the BN government, “such as pension and
healthcare".
V.T. Naidu, a 62-year-old retired policeman, said it was because
of the opportunities provided by the BN government that his son
has become an engineer and his daughter also an engineer.
According to the report, the Indian community's support for the
ruling coalition has grown in the state of Selangor since the last
general elections in 2008.
Ramesh Rao, president of the Pertubuhan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin,
said in contrast to another party that ruled the state, the BN
government “never issued notices to stop temple bells from ringing
or demolished Hindu temples”.
In the state of Negri Sembilan, too, Indian support for the ruling
coaltion is growing.
Jeya Balan, chairman of Negri Sembilan Hindu Sangam chairman for
Taman Templer in Seremban, said Indians saw BN's “clear direction
and agenda for the community”.
"The support is there. The political tsunami of 2008 has taught us
not to place our hopes on parties that do not deliver," he was
quoted as saying.
General elections will be held in Malaysia May 5. Ethnic Indians
comprise a little over seven percent of Malaysia's total
population of nearly 30 million.
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