Ex-CM Chong appeals to Chinese voters to support BN
KOTA KINABALU: Former chief minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat has urged Chinese voters to support Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary and state seats.
“The Chinese voters had given the opportunity to Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidates in the last two general elections, but what did they get in Kota Kinabalu in the end?”
Chong, who is also the former president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said the DAP assemblymen elected for the Likas, Luyang and Kapayan state seats in the 13th general election (GE13) had all switched to other parties.
Hence, he appealed to the voters to think carefully who to support in the coming election.
“Do not let emotions affect your decision,” he said when gracing the Parents’ Day celebration hosted by the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Singers Association Sabah here on Sunday.
The BN candidates for Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat is Dr Joseph Lee, while Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Datuk Chin Shu Ying and Dr Pamela Yong will be contesting for the Api-Api, Likas and Luyang state seats respectively.
Chong added that DAP had condemned Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership during his 22-year tenure as prime minister yet the party now worked with Mahathir and even allowed him to lead Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Despite having withdrawn from politics in the last 11 years, Chong is stepping forward now because he wanted to remind the people that Mahathir has made it clear his dislike for the relations between Malaysia and China, nor did he appreciate Chinese investments in the country.
“Mahathir has publicly declared that PH would review all the agreements and commitments between Malaysia and China.”
He said China had maintained friendly relations with Malaysia because we were the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize the Chinese nation over 40 years ago under the late Tun Abdul Razak’s leadership.
Chong said the Chinese community in Sabah should think carefully before deciding to give their support to DAP for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary, Likas, Api-Api and Luyang state seats again.
He said BN would return as the federal government and state government of Sabah.
“If Chinese voters do not support BN Chinese candidates, we will have no representation in the federal and state governments,” he stressed.
Also present were LDP president cum caretaker Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang, LDP deputy president Datuk Chin Su Phin, LDP secretary general Datuk Yong Wui Chung, former Elopura assemblyman Datuk Au Kam Wah, Tan Sri Joseph Lo and Tan Sri Paul Lim.