KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr. P Ramasamy does not need to meddle in the affairs of the Indian community, especially voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by asking them not to vote for a particular candidate.
Hulu Selangor MIC chief K. Balasundaram said any external influence from the former DAP leader from Penang is unnecessary for voters in KKB.
"He is disappointed. He tries to find a way to condemn others. He made a fuss with DAP, then he left and can't stay quiet.
"Now, he gets carried away and wants to interfere in deciding the fate of the Indians in Hulu Selangor, especially in Kuala Kubu Bharu.
"Ramasamy has no influence here (Hulu Selangor). The Indian community will not be influenced as we have our own principles and stance. There is no need for external influences," he said when contacted.
He was commenting on Ramasamy's statement urging Indian voters in KKB not to heed calls for boycotting the upcoming by-election on May 11, but instead avoid voting for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The former DAP leader also emphasised that his newly formed party, Urimai, has no unofficial or official relationship with the opposition, especially Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Commenting on MIC's participation in the by-election, Balasundaram said directives from the top leadership have yet to be finalised.
"There are several issues involving Indian voters that need to be addressed by the government.
"We only have small dissatisfaction with the government regarding what was promised but has not yet been fulfilled. That's all.
"The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) still has room for improvement," he said.
The KKB state legislative assembly has about 6,000 Indian voters, representing 18 per cent of the total voters.
Two polling districts with high numbers of Indian voters are Bukit Tagar and Kerling.
Meanwhile, attempts to get comments from the Hulu Selangor PKR chief Dr. Sathia Prakash Nadarajan, on the same matter, have been unsuccessful.
The Election Commission (EC) has set the KKB by-election for May 11, with April 27 as the nomination day. Early voting is set for May 7 with a 14-day campaigning period.