Clear swing in Chinese votes, says Chua

PETALING JAYA: There is a significant swing in Chinese support for the Barisan Nasional in the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He said the thumping win by Barisan for the by-elections in Kelantan and Sabah showed that the Chinese community was rooting for the coalition.

There are 2,317 Chinese voters in Galas or 20.06% of the 11,553 voters.

“There is an increase of between 40% and 60% of Chinese support this time around,” Dr Chua said while thanking the Chinese community for their support.

Barisan wrested the Galas state seat from PAS with a 1,190-vote majority on Thursday.

Dr Chua said the Chinese community realised the importance of supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the 1Malaysia policy under his leadership.

The Chinese had also taken note of a more united and stable MCA which was serving the people as a team, he added.

Dr Chua, who had been in Galas for four days during the campaign period, said he had taken note of the problems in the area and would resolve them as agreed in principle.

“The people are very friendly, willing to talk about their problems and aspirations,” he said.

The two by-elections were the first since the last general election where there was an increase in support from the Chinese community.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the victories showed that the people are supporting the 1Malaysia concept.

He said the people also welcomed the ETP and the National Key Economic Areas promoted by the Government.

“These are the two main reasons the Chinese voters have returned to the Barisan. They are happy with the current MCA leadership, hence the rise in votes from the community,” he told reporters at the MIC Deepavali open house yesterday.

Meanwhile, MCA vice-president Datuk Chor Chee Heung said the people’s support for the Barisan in Galas and Batu Sapi showed that they were confident that the coalition would be able to bring about development.

THE STAR (Saturday November 6, 2010)