TAPAH: MCA’s machinery in Ayer Kuning is making every effort to ensure that Chinese voters living out of town return to vote, says Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
The MCA deputy president said overall, the campaign is running smoothly.
However, he said the main challenge is ensuring the voters return.
“Many have just recently gone back to their hometowns after Qing Ming, and may not return to vote.
“That’s the bigger issue – not whether they support Barisan Nasional, but whether they will come back to vote,” he told reporters during a walkabout with Barisan candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir at the Ayer Kuning wet market near here on Tuesday (April 15).
ALSO READ: Ayer Kuning polls: Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir the right man, says Dr Wee
Also present was MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, who is the Tapah MP.
Dr Mah said the entire MCA machinery has been mobilised to help and ensure a big win for Barisan and Yusri.
Asked about the percentage of Chinese voters residing out of town, he said it "is quite significant".
Dr Mah also said the number included young voters below 40.
Saravanan said that of the 3,700 Indian voters in Tapah, most are from Ayer Kuning.
He said MIC’s machinery is also identifying Indian voters residing out of town to get them to return.
ALSO READ: Ayer Kuning voters must choose a promising future for themselves, says Ahmad Maslan
“We are doing our best to get them to come back on polling day, as most of them had already come home during the festive break," he said.
Saravanan said he believed the Indian community here would support Barisan's candidate even though some may "show a sign of protest (over) the issue of the Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur."
Yusri is contesting the state seat against Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek and Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy secretary-general KS Bawani.
The by-election was called after Umno incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, died on Feb 22.
Polling is set for April 26 with early voting on April 22. In GE15, Ishsam polled 9,088 votes to win with a majority of 2,213.
