PUTRAJAYA: Some quarters are so desperate to gain the people's support that they have resorted to hate politics and a smear campaign against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
PKR deputy Information chief Datuk R. Ramanan said he was more so disappointed that some Indian leaders had employed such tactics to provoke the community during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign period.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Some Indian leaders, not all, need to get themselves checked in Tanjung Rambutan (Hospital Bahagia psychiatric department).
"If you are that good, why didn't you contest as an independent candidate?" he told reporters after visiting Karnival Jom Heboh here today.
Ramanan, who is the deputy entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister, also reiterated Anwar's commitment towards the empowerment of the Indian community through various initiatives and programmes.
He repeated his call for all quarters to stop the accusations that the prime minister neglected the Indian community.
"If he doesn't prioritise the Indian community, then how did we manage to raise Tekun (National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund) fund (Spumi financing scheme) from RM30 million to RM60 million?
"I don't follow the PM (prime minister) blindly even though he's my boss; however, I would like to reiterate that he has never sidelined the Indian community, as clearly shown by the increase in allocations," he said.
On Friday, Ramanan announced the approval of a grant worth RM100,000 to Koperasi Pengusaha Restoran India Malaysia Bhd (Koprimas), provided through the Cooperative Strengthening Programme under the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia.
There are about 8,000 registered Indian voters in the Kuala Kubu Baharu constituency, making up about 18 per cent of the electorate.
According to the latest electoral roll by the Election Commission, the constituency has 40,226 registered voters comprising 39,362 ordinary voters, 625 policemen, 238 soldiers and spouses, and one overseas absentee voter.
The by-election is set for May 11 following the death of assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21.
EC has set May 7 for early voting.