COMMENT | GE15 voting analysis - Part 3: Hidden, pivotal Indian swing

COMMENT | Often overlooked and ignored, the story of Malaysian Indian neglect is not new. Analyses of the 15th general election (GE15), to date, have focused primarily on the two largest communities in Peninsular Malaysia.

They miss a pivotal swing: when looking at recent state elections, the largest (percentage) shift in voting was among the Indian community.

This third article in this series on ethnic voting in GE15 looks at the voting of the Indian community, both turnout and support, and its impact on the 2022 general election.

The frame to look at the pattern of Indian voting is the 2021 Malacca and 2022 Johor state elections and GE14. In all of these recent polls, the Indian community was important in shaping outcomes. (Click here for pre-GE15 Indian voter analysis)

Repeatedly, even with their fewer population numbers compared to other groups, the Indian community was decisive in shaping the final GE15 results, boosting Pakatan Harapan candidates.

A pattern is clear: Malaysian Indians are deeply...