Teo confident BN will regain Chinese support
KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang has called for the people’s support for Barisan Nasional (BN), especially in constituencies where LDP shall contest.
“Empower us by your votes so that we can be a stronger voice in the government for our beloved Sabah,” he urged.
By and large, Teo said the Malaysian Chinese voted for the opposition in 2008 and 2013.
“The national average Chinese support for BN was only less than 15 per cent, possibly the lowest in Malaysian history.
“I am confident that what goes down must come up.
“It is time for Malaysia Chinese to do some soul searching and make a rational decision in the next general election, otherwise the Chinese may be stereotyped as pro-opposition,” Teo said when delivering his opening address at the 28th party congress of LDP here yesterday.
As a Chinese-based party, Teo said LDP had been working closely with Chinese nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).
In fact, he said many LDP leaders in the central or divisional level were very involved in the trade, education, religion and clan related Chinese NGOs in the State.
“We understand the Chinese community, we are inextricably intertwined with the Chinese community.
“We co-exist and are interdependent to one another.
“I urge the Chinese community to give LDP your strong support, strengthen LDP and empower LDP so that we can do more for you.”
As the 14th General Election is approaching, Teo said Pakatan Harapan had hastily come out with their manifesto promising a “new deal” for Sabah. Their promise of a Deputy Prime Minister for East Malaysia, 20 per cent oil royalty, 50 per cent of Federal revenue derived from Sabah to be given to Sabah shows that they are desperate for the support from Sabah and Sarawak, he said.
“Pakatan Harapan know that they can’t capture Sabah and Sarawak, that is why they can make unrealistic promises that are not deliverable.
“The purpose is merely to win as many seats as possible from Sabah and Sarawak to make up the number for Putrajaya.”
He pointed out that Sabah and Sarawak do not need a new deal.
“What we want is just to get what we bargained for as agreed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“It is plain naivety Pakatan Harapan Sabah to place their hope on Tun Dr Mahathir to give 20 per cent oil royalty, 50 per cent federal revenue derived from Sabah, and the administrative power for education, tourism, transport to Sabah.”
Furthermore, Teo said Pakatan Harapan was good in making u-turns.
“They used to object vigorously to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the extent that they went on street demonstration, later on vice president of PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar said that Pakatan Harapan will not abolish GST if they win the general election.
“Likewise, Pakatan Harapan used to object to Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) but later said that they will continue with BR1M should they succeed in taking over Putrajaya.
“As for their relationship with Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), their chairman Tun Dr Mahathir said he will put a stop to PASPKR negotiation, but Anwar Ibrahim gave his blessing to Azmin Ali to hold negotiations with PAS for cooperation during the 14th General Election.”
He said PKR and DAP Sabah may say that they have severed tie with PAS, but the fact remains that PAS is still part of the Pakatan government in Selangor.
Of the 11 State Legislative Assembly seats won by Pakatan Harapan (then Pakatan Rakyat) in the last general election, eight have ditched the party, he said.
“Is this the party that the people can trust?”
If the 13 additional State seats are not adopted, Teo said LDP will contest in the four State seats entrusted by BN, namely Tanjong Kapor, Likas, Karamunting, Merotai and Sandakan parliament seat.
He said the 14th General Election is going to be extremely challenging for BN and LDP to retain its existing seats and regain our lost grounds.
“However, I trust that if we always have the people’s interests in our hearts and do what is best for the people, we will sail through.”