The myth of kingmakers in Kuala Kubu Bahru

Are they really kingmakers?

Kingmakers – they are a small group of people who determine the victors in an election. Their role is extremely vital in a scenario when the votes are split equally among the contenders.

In extreme cases, the kingmakers can be made up of even one person since every single vote matters in an election.

The question of a certain group of people being kingmakers have once again been raised.

This time, in the context of the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election.

The Indian voters in Kuala Kubu Bahru have been branded as the kingmakers of the victors.

But are they really kingmakers? Or are there another group of people who are the actual kingmakers.

Indians make up 18 percent of the total voters – 40,226. By comparison the Malays are 46.4 percent, Chinese 30.6 percent and others five percent.

18 percent is equivalent to 7,240 voters.

It is a known fact that voter turnout for by-elections are generally lower than a general election. The outcome in Kuala Kubu Bahru would not bring a change in the state government even though it no longer has a two third majority.

The last time the Indian community had swung their votes en bloc was in the aftermath of the Hindraf rally which contributed to Pakatan Rakyat taking over five state governments in 2008. This was the most effective en bloc voting done in the polls.

Hence the notion of the Indians being kingmakers in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election is, at best, a myth.