Counting on the comeback

Making the rounds: Dr Mah (seated, right) conducting a health checkup on a voter at the Ayer Kuning wet market. Looking on are Mohamad Yusri (centre) and Saravanan (seated beside Dr Mah). — RONNIE CHIN/The Star

TAPAH: Persuading outstation Chinese and Indian voters to come back to cast their ballots in the Ayer Kuning by-election is a big challenge for Barisan Nasional’s MCA and MIC.

“Many came back for Qing Ming and Hari Raya Aidilfitri break. And they’re back in the big cities to resume work.

“So they may not return again to vote,” MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said to reporters when met at the Ayer Kuning wet market near here yesterday.

“That is the bigger issue. Not whether they support Barisan Nasional, but whether they will actually come back again to vote.”

Dr Mah was accompanying Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir for a walkabout to meet locals.

Also present was MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Sarava­nan, who is also the Tapah MP.

Despite the constituency being a rural area, 43% of its more than 31,800 voters are non-Malays, comprising 21% Chinese, 14% Indians, 7% Orang Asli and ­others at 1%.

Dr Mah said that a “significant ­number” of Chinese voters below the age of 40 are working and ­residing outside the constituency.

“We are doing our best to encourage them to come back and vote for Barisan Nasional. MCA is also putting in the effort to make sure they return to vote,” he added.

Of the Chinese voters in the constituency that he has met, Mohamad Yusri said they have shown a positive response towards him and the coalition.

“I have seen large crowds ­during our campaign events, and I hope this momentum will continue until polling day on the 26th,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Saravanan said MIC is also tracking Indian voters in Ayer Kuning who are also residing and working away from home.

“We are doing our best to get them to come back on polling day as most of them have left after the festive break,” he said.

Saravanan also responded to attempts by the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) to play up the recent controversy involving a Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur in the by-election.

“There are not many issues or problems in the constituency. Certain parties are bringing up the case of the Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur as a sign of protest (against the government).

“But I believe the Indian community will support Barisan’s candidate,” he said.