FORMER DAP stalwart Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy has warned eligible voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) not to fall for the ‘empty’ promises of Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming who is the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief campaigner for this Saturday’s (May 11) by-election.

For context, the DAP vice-chairman and Teluk Intan MP has unveiled two major projects on behalf of the unity government as an inducement for voters in the KKB state constituency.

The first was the RM5.2 mil development project covering the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency in which KKB is one of the three state constituencies apart from Hulu Bernam and Batang Kali, both of which come under PAS and Bersatu respectively.

But two days back, Nga announced an even bigger RM75 mil federal funds for the construction of houses for about 250 estate workers’ families in five estates in Selangor. Two of the estates are located in the state constituency of KKB.

“For nearly 26 years, there wasn’t a sound on the house ownership programme. But all of sudden, there was announcement that the Federal government is allocating RM75 mil for the housing scheme on a 20-acre land given by Berjaya Corp Bhd,” lamented former Penang chief minister II Ramasamy who now helms the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai).

“While the workers of these estates have welcomed the proposal, they are wondering whether the announcement was another PH (Pakatan Harapan)/DAP election gimmick. What is for sure, however, is that both projects are clear contravention of the election rules and regulations imposed by the Election Commission (EC).”

While the PH-led government has brushed aside the illegality of the announcements, Ramasamy said “this cannot camouflage the ruling coalition’s desperateness” given Indians who constitute 18% of KKB voters are “kingmakers” who can make or break PH-DAP in this weekend’s by-election.

“This would explain why the government is not only pouring development aid but announced the housing project to be on good side with the Indians,” justified the former three-term Perai state assemblyman.

“But whether the housing project will indeed take off based on the past broken promises and lies remains to be seen. It will probably take another four to five years for the housing project to be improved. Anything could happen during the interval.”

Added Ramasamy who is rallying for eligible Indian voters to vote for “any party except PH-DAP”: “If the PH-led government falls within the first term, then it is goodbye to the housing project. This is why the workers wanted government guarantees in the form of statutory declaration (SD) to provide legitimacy to the project.

“Unfortunately, the unity government which has to make the announcement in a hurry is not in position to guarantee the implementation of the project.” - May 7, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/ramasamy-kkbs-indian-voters-must-stop-believing-in-housing-sweetener-dished-out-by-ph-coalition/