KUALA KUBU BAHARU: PKR deputy information chief Datuk R. Ramanan has expressed confidence that Indian voters in the state constituency would come out to vote on Saturday.
This, he said, was despite calls by certain quarters to boycott the upcoming by-election.
"I am confident that the voters will come out and fulfil their responsibilities to vote as Malaysian citizens.
"Furthermore, the top leadership (of the unity government) have come down to Kuala Kubu Baharu to explain things to the people," he said.
Ramanan was speaking to reporters after a briefing session of the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) Community Entrepreneur Development Financing Empowerment Scheme (Spumi/Spumi Goes Big), with the Indian community in Batang Kali.
He described the calls to boycott by certain quarters as having been done with malicious intent.
"There is a saying that goes by 'If you cannot convince them, confuse them'. That was what they did (confuse the voters) because they could not convince, persuade and provide the voters with facts.
"They confuse and spread false news, as well as promote wrong narratives and ignite racial issues among the Indian community.
"The fact is that we live peacefully and coexist. We all work as one family, regardless of race or ethnicity.
"But, what surprises me more is that it came from within our community. It's very disappointing and disgusting if you ask me," said the deputy entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.
Meanwhile, on Spumi Goes Big, Ramanan said since its launch on April 3 with applications open from April 15, Tekun has received 21 applications for the programme.
"Of the total, six applications have been approved with financing amounting to RM250,000.
"The rest of the applications are being processed with financing amounting to RM1.35 million. I hope that the Indian community will take this opportunity to improve and expand their businesses to the next level."
Spumi Goes Big received a RM30 million boost to the existing scheme, making the total allocation for the program stand at RM60 million.
Under Spumi Goes Big, small businesses can get financing between RM50,000 and RM100,000, he said.
Previously, entrepreneurs could apply for loans between RM1,000 and RM100,000.
Since its inception in 2007, Spumi has helped more than 28,000 Indian entrepreneurs, including small contractors, agriculture and agro-based sectors, services, retail, manufacturing, and online businesses, with a total allocation of RM450.5 million.