MELAKA: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has praised the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) for its unwavering loyalty, crediting the party for consistently supporting Umno and BN over several decades of elections.
The Umno president said Kimma had stood by the party for more than 30 years as a trusted ally, making it an important part of BN’s support base.
Founded in 1976 to champion the socioeconomic and political interests of Malaysia’s Indian Muslim community, Kimma has long sought full component party membership in BN.
Although it remains outside BN’s formal Supreme Council structure, it was granted associate member status with Umno in 2010.
“In every by-election and state election campaign, Kimma has shown its own resolve and worked tirelessly to gather Indian Muslim voters to support BN candidates,” Zahid said at a gathering hosted by Kimma in Pengkalan Batu.
“I see that Indian Muslim voters in Melaka remain deeply loyal and steadfast with BN,” he added, while thanking KIMMA president Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader for his leadership in mobilising support.
Zahid also called on the community to extend its support to Perikatan Nasional candidates, including PN candidate for Ayer Keroh Michael Gan, under the electoral pact between the two coalitions, with BN contesting 23 seats and PN five.
Kimma president Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader said the party had activated its grassroots machinery across all 28 constituencies in Melaka, including setting up a dedicated call centre, to ensure the state’s estimated 2,850 Indian Muslim voters turned out on polling day.
“Through our Jalinan Rakyat network, we have already compiled voter data and met with them even before candidate nominations,” he said.
“On Nov 14, our call centre will contact voters to remind them to cast their ballots and assist those who need transport or face any issues. Our task is to ensure every Indian Muslim voter is brought out to vote.”
Syed Ibrahim added that supporting BN was a strict party directive, warning that members who failed to support the coalition risked being expelled.
Indian Muslims account for about three per cent of Melaka’s electorate.