Pakatan will lose 15 seats, predicts MIC

Its strategy bureau deputy chief R Ramanan turns soothsayer, anticipates Pakatan Rakyat to lose about 15 seats in the 13th general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: Internal sabotage and Indian voter swing towards Barisan Nasional will result in Pakatan Rakyat losing several seats it currently holds in the 13th general election.

Among the reasons for this, said MIC strategy bureau deputy director R Ramanan, is that Pakatan, unlike in 2008, is missing the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Pakatan coalition – comprising PAS, DAP and PKR – made massive inroads at the last election, reducing BN’s long held two-thirds majority in Parliament.

It captured five states – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan. Perak went back to the BN after three state assemblymen crossed over and declared themselves Independents in favour of the BN.

The lack of Indian support for BN contributed to its big loss in the 2008 general election, as the 1.8 million Indian community, its traditional supporters, turned their backs on the ruling coalition.

“Opposition parties failed to convince people that their candidates are credible. The top leadership did not even bother to consult grassroots leaders before announcing the candidates.

“This has led to sabotage on the ground. Grassroots leaders are not happy with the candidates and this led to many defections,” said Ramanan.

Ramanan said the “dictatorial” way of Pakatan in its picking of candidates has irked many in its respective parties, especially in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johor.

“The state committees of Johor, Selangor, Perak and Kedah have had open spats with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim over the issue,” he said.

“Parachute candidates were chosen over local candidates well-versed with the area and the people. They should have explained their decisions. This would have been welcome.”

Indians back to ‘Barisan Najib’

On NGOs, Ramanan said they were now not like in the 2008 election where they and the rakyat spent money from their own pockets to ensure a Pakatan victory.

“The scenario has changed. The NGOs and the public are disappointed with Pakatan leaders who disregarded their views and suggestions,” he said.

He cited an example where the Pakatan-led Selangor state government had promised to reserve four councillors’ post for each local council for NGOs in the state.

“But the Pakatan government betrayed the NGOs by not fulfilling this promise. This is one of the reasons why the NGOs have moved away from Pakatan,” he said.

As for the Indian community, the MIC man said it was obvious that the Indians have crossed back to “Barisan Najib”.

He said statistics showed that 80% of Indian voters supported Pakatan in 2008 “but, with Najib’s wow factor taking shape, 55% Indians are back to the BN”.

“Taking all this into account, Pakatan will lose at least 15 parliamentary seats in the election. You have to remember that Indians are kingmakers in 35 parliamentary seats.

“The BN still has another 10 days to go before polling and the Indian support is expected to increase to 65% by polling day,” said Ramanan.