Support ruling coalition, Chinese urged
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth has reminded the Chinese community to throw their support behind the ruling coalition, which has never failed to protect their interests.
Cautioning of an inevitable backlash if the Chinese continue to shun Barisan Nasional, the wing’s vicechief Khairul Azwan Harun said pressure might even be forced on the government to give less attention to Chinese vernacular schools.
“These are calls we hear frequently, not only from politicians, but also from professionals and academicians,” he said, adding that there was already pressure to reduce the number of Chinese schools.
Khairul also told MCA and Gerakan that they must share the responsibility of winning over the Chinese and work hard for BN to regain the trust of the community.
He said it was important for these component parties to fight DAP’s narratives or risk being counterproductive.
“The anti-Malay, anti-Islam narrative is causing polarisation, and, unfortunately, it is this narrative that is being accepted by a majority of the Chinese voters. We can see that the (Chinese voters’) support in the 12th and 13th general elections drastically went down because they accepted this narrative,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Khairul said as long as DAP was using this narra- tive, the Chinese would not vote for MCA or Gerakan.
“In the end, it becomes counterproductive. Do not be surprised if we are forced to pull back some policies for the Chinese.
“I am not threatening or criticising anyone, but this should act as a wake-up call. You need to show results.”
Khairul Azwan added that the concept of power-sharing should be equated to the sharing of responsibility, work and risks.
Only then, he said, would it result in fair and reflective power-sharing.
“If, in the future, the Chinese voters still subscribe to this narrative, then I think it is high time that BN revisit the partnership (with MCA and Gerakan).”
Khairul also suggested the government consider moving the air transportation hub from Penang to a “BN heartland”.
“If we want to move the air transportation hub from Penang to Kedah or Perak, you will have to accept (the decision). We should move it to a state that supports BN.”