In a statement, P Ramasamy said the non-Malay electorate has grown increasingly disillusioned with Umno and the government.

“A repeat of the Sungai Bakap by-election, where many Chinese voters simply abstained from voting, is a likely scenario,” the former Perai assemblyman said.

It was previously reported that only 47% of the Chinese electorate had cast their ballots in the 2024 by-election in Penang.

The Indian community, on the other hand, continues to distance itself from Umno and the Pakatan Harapan-led government, Ramasamy, who now leads Indian-based party Urimai, claimed.

“It would be a mistake for Umno to assume that non-Malay voters will automatically support them simply because the party is part of the ruling coalition.”

He went on to say that Urimai will be “campaigning” on the ground for the upcoming polls and it will urge Indians not to vote for Umno or the PH-led government.

Nor will it campaign in support of Perikatan National as the opposition coalition has yet to demonstrate any real commitment to non-Malay rights, he said.

“Urimai is confident that it can convince more than 50% of Indian voters to abstain from voting for Umno.”

Yesterday, Perak speaker Zahir Khalid said they would notify the Election Commission of the Ayer Kuning seat vacancy as early as tomorrow following the death of its assemblyman, Ishsam Shahruddin.

Ishsam died on Saturday after collapsing during a friendly football match in Penang.

In the last general election, Ishsam won the seat with a 2,213-vote majority in a five-cornered contest.

About 55% of voters are Malays, while 35% are non-Malays.