After the booing and throwing of eggs...

Will the Buntong Indians still throw their votes for BN again? Malaysiakini did spotted the Buntong Indians in their news recently. It has been a tradition for Ipoh being a stronghold of the opposition party. In the 70's when Ipoh under the grips of People's Progresive Party (an opposition party than), the predominantly Chinese voters voted for the famous D. R. Seenivasagam and S. P. Seenivasagam brothers.

I'm those who have been living in Ipoh after those PPP's famous brother's era for some times already and lots of my Indians friends are from Buntong, Ipoh. This is the place where Indians are predominant (about 46% of voters) in Malaysia. Apart from that Chinese made of 47% and the remaining are Malays.

If the Chinese majority sentiments for DAP were taken into account, then BN will have slim chance in Buntong. But that was not the case always here since the Indians somehow clinch it for the BN. For most Indians here, it's BN and MIC who can solve their problems.

In the last elections DAP came close with their candidate A Sivasubramaniam who lost to Yik Phooi Hong by 2382 votes. Siva will be given another chance in Buntong this time but he will take on MCA's newcomer Lee Tung Lai and the incumbent Yik will move to Ipoh Barat federal seat to contest against the current MP Kula of DAP.

In the past few months the tempo in Buntong seems to swing back against the BN, especially since the recent Hindraf showdown in Kuala Lumpur has awaken the Indians by large. Now we can see the Indians came out openly and boldly critics the ruling BN even in marketplace and coffee shops. A phenomenon! Since being a small kid living in Ipoh, I knew that Indians here are so damn loyal to BN and MIC. My late mother, will ask me to 'shut up' if I say something wrong about MIC leaders or BN leaders. She will futher says 'you young people are so damn ungrateful' towards your leaders. Haha... It's like dat lah!

In recent times, Indians changed and their fondness towards the BN seems to fade away! What make the Indians tick? I don't know! But, recently Indians in Buntong had gone a milestone when they bravely booed and jeered the Perak M.B and MIC chief of Perak. Even eggs had been thrown at the stage where the leaders were attending a session meeting up the people. Now it's like dat lah!

clipped from www.malaysiakini.com

Lee said "it should be okay" when asked on his chances of retaining the seat for Barisan and that his track record as a local activist would bode well to win substantial support of Buntong's 10,190 Chinese electorate.

However, he appeared less confident when quizzed about Indian voters.

"There will be a difference (in the way they vote this time)," said Lee, who plans to tackle this by banking on his MIC comrades to help introduce him in an intensive house-to-house campaign.

Lee also brushed off suggestions that a recent confrontation between disgruntled Indians here and Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli was reflective of the entire Indian community in Buntong.

During the Feb 19 incident, a group of Indians jeered Tajol during a meet-the-people session. Other victims of public dissatisfaction included Perak MIC chief G Rajoo and Yik. An egg was also thrown on stage but missed all three VIPs.

"There are only a small group of people who are causing trouble," said Lee.

DAP seems to knew about the Indians displeasure for the current BN leadership and they are aware that this is their finest moment to capture back the Buntong state seat from BN. Of lately, there has been some fiery 'ceramahs' and hard campaigning going on the Buntong marketplace and Chin Woo Hall by the DAP leadership. Maybe just 50% of Indians vote will secure the Buntong seat for them in the coming G.E.

Now, can the BN and MIC leadership came up with a bright idea of appeasing the Indians anger in Buntong? Will Samy Velu came down and cool off the Buntong Indians or will he be busy to safeguard his own 'burning' Sungei Siput seat? Anyway Samy is more lucky than Yik and Lee since he's not going to deal with of lots of Indians votes in Malay majority Sungai Siput.

If Samy were so 'angkuh' and says that he will left the office when the Indians dont's like him, then I humbly request to Samy, why not come and contest in Ipoh Barat? A place with more Indians! Why contest in Sungai Siput (Malay majority) area? Then, Samy will know really how the Indians love him so much!

ciao!