PKR should not play to the political orchestrations of Umno-PAS in fielding a Malay candidate in the coming Rantau by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

Following the victory of Umno candidates in the recent by-elections in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih, there are elements within PKR who are saying that a Malay candidate must be fielded to offset the victory of the Umno candidate.

The reasoning is simple, it might not even be racial: given the extreme ethnic and religious rhetoric of Umno and PAS, and given the fact that Malay voters are slightly over 50%, the chances of a Malay candidate achieving victory are high.

Fielding an Indian candidate might not get the required Malay votes, even with the support of non-Malay voters with Indians at 27% and Chinese at 14%.

Even if PKR fields a Malay candidate, there is no guarantee that there will be enough Malay votes to ensure victory and that Indians and Chinese will vote for this candidate.

Since, in the last general election, Rembau PKR deputy chairman S Streram was prevented from contesting, there is high hope in the constituency that he will be given a chance.

He not only contested his disqualification but successfully overturned the decision of the Election Commission for a by-election on April 13 and nomination on March 30.

From discussions, there is a good chance that Streram might be renominated to contest.

He might get the support of the Indians and Chinese, and some degree of support from the Malays.

Whether PKR fields a Malay or Indian candidate, it is going to be a tough battle. The extreme rhetoric of Umno and PAS is no guarantee that their candidate will win.

The racial and religious extremism of Umno and PAS might deny Streram a sizeable chunk of votes, something to be expected. Non-Malays will vote for him, if he is nominated.

However, with the full turnout of non-Malays and some degree of support from the Malays, Streram might pull it off, even if the majority is a reduced one.

Knowing very well that Streram might be nominated for the seat, there are allegations coming from his own party members of him borrowing money and not returning it. He has refuted this by saying that he borrowed money from Segamat MP S Edmund Santhara Kumar and paid it back.

Whether Streram borrowed the money and paid it back is a personal issue between two persons best settled among themselves. It is unethical and irresponsible to settle scores in the midst of election preparations.

Why bring up the issue at a time when Streram is being considered for re-nomination for the Rantau by-election?

Clearly, the intention cannot be other than to sabotage his chances of being considered for re-nomination.

Surely Santhara, being an MP, ought to know better than to spoil Streram’s chances.

Perhaps he is part of a faction in PKR that thinks a Malay candidate might have a better chance than an Indian.

There is a bigger political scenario to be taken into account in why PKR needs to reconsider Streram or any other suitable Indian candidate. There are not many electoral seats in the country that have sizeable Indian voters, let alone seats with Indian majorities.

If a majoritarian approach is adopted, whether under the impact of Umno-PAS and their brand of politicking or not, Indian candidates cannot be nominated in any constituency with the exception of the state constituency of Buntong in Ipoh where Indians are slightly over 50%.

Those who advocate the nomination of a Malay candidate in Rantau are unwittingly buying into the argument that since the Malays are the majority, it is better to field a Malay candidate.

Moreover, those who advocate this argument think that by fielding a Malay candidate, they can reduce the influence of Umno-PAS’ racial and religious rhetoric.

The argument in favour of a Malay candidate in Rantau seems to have veered away from the multiracial approach of PKR or, for that matter, PH.

If Umno and PAS are going to determine the future political trajectory of this country, then non-Malays have no role in the political process.

Whether in by-elections or in general elections, majoritarian impulses must be curbed for the betterment of society as a whole.

P Ramasamy is Penang deputy chief minister II.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.