In Brickfields, a Najib corners the Indian vote

By Baradan Kuppusamy- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 – At the popular Restaurant Sri Kotumalai in the predominantly Indian neighbourhood of Brickfields a large picture of the prime minister hangs on a wall with the words “Najib’s Corner” printed on the side.

The photograph shows a smiling Datuk Seri Najib Razak surrounded by successful Indian traders drinking tea, an image hundreds if not thousands of customers must have seen since it first went up on April 4.

This is just one example of the direct approach that Najib took and is taking after becoming Prime Minister on April 3 to win the hearts and minds of an Indian community deeply alienated in the run up to the March 8, 2008 general election and which had overwhelmingly voted for the Pakatan Rakyat.

Najib’s battle to improve Indian perception started a day after he was sworn in as prime minister on April 3 with his visit to Brickfields which some consider as the heart of the Hindraf and Makkal Sakthi movement.

It was at a huge gathering in Brickfields that Indian voters first heard opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Lembah Pantai candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar, his daughter, speak for the Indian community by offering help and promising to right wrongs.

Nurul went on to defeat Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the then Women, Family and Community Development Minister, and take her place in parliament.

The Makkal Sakthi fever helped many Pakatan Rakyat leaders win but the Indian enchantment with the coalition has now tapered off.

One hundred days since Najib becoming Prime Minister the hearts and mind battle is winning him approval and supporters in the community as a recent Merdeka Centre poll shows.

The poll shows that his approval rating is 65 per cent, up from 46 per cent in mid-May and 42 per cent just before he became the country’s sixth leader.

Twenty-two per cent are dissatisfied with his performance while 13 per cent were undecided.

Some 1,060 selected registered voters were surveyed between June 19 and July 1.

The Merdeka Centre survey shows that Najib’s support is strongest among the Malays.

Some 74 per cent of Malays polled are satisfied with his performance as PM, while the level of support among Chinese and Indians is 48 per cent and 74 per cent respectively.

“Najib has managed to capture the attention of the people with his numerous reform measures,” said political scientist Dr Denison Jayasooria, adding that the challenge now is for him to translate the promises into concrete action.

“He has to do it in the next two years,” he said.

“He provided bold leadership, showed he was willing to make unpopular but necessary decisions and generally convinced the people that he is a leader to be taken seriously,” Dr Denison said.

One area for concern in his first 100 days is the poor treatment of dissenting voices and his commitment to promoting human rights, which were key concerns of Tun Abdullah Badawi.

“It is not so much Najib is lacking in human rights concerns but police and other agencies have been showing considerable intolerance to dissenters and it reflects on his administration,” Dr Denison said.

“He has to improve on this score in the next two years,” he said.

Putting it all together, he said, he is not surprised there is disappointment with the PR alliance and a significant spike in Indian support for the new prime minister.

“Here is a golden opportunity for the MIC to ride back into favour. They just have to ride on Najib’s reform and to consensus emerging around him to win back Indian support,” he said.

However to do it, the MIC has to promote younger leaders under a new face as party leader, Dr Denison said, referring to the refusal of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to step aside for a new face.

“This is a major setback for the MIC,” he said.