PM: DAP’s cut-throat tactic will hurt Chinese

> Better representation from community needed in govt, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP’s strategy of taking on MCA and Gerakan leaders in the 14th general election (GE14) will only be detrimental to the Chinese community, said caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

He said this strategy is based on the hypothesis that there would be a Malay tsunami.

“There will be no Malay tsunami but if DAP’s strategy works, it’s the Chinese community that will be affected as there is a need for strong Chinese representation in the government,” Najib said when launching the redevelopment of Kuen Cheng High School’s campus here yesterday. Also present was MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said MCA and Gerakan have been working tirelessly to support the Chinese community.

The prime minister said he has always received requests from leaders of the two parties on what else the government could do for the community.

He said, for example, they informed him that the community needed more schools and the government approved the building of 10 new schools and the relocation of six.

He said whatever problems the community faced the government has been quick to resolve.

Najib cited the example of the shortage of teachers in Chinese schools which was resolved by the government.

He said although Chinese make up 23% of the Malaysian population, there are only 6% of Chinese MPs in the last parliament who supported the government.

Saying this will be detrimental to the community, he hoped Chinese voters would ignore DAP’s strategy and return more BN Chinese candidates instead. Najib also hit out at the Opposition’s plans to reviews deals and contracts that had been given to companies from China. He said this action is akin to shooting ourselves in the foot. “This action will only hurt the country’s economy in the long term because China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner,” he said. He said if China decided to stop buying palm oil from Malaysia it will not only hurt local businesses but also the 3.2 million people that rely on the industry. Najib urged the Chinese community not to believe what the Opposition is saying because it is making commitments that will hurt the country’s economy.