KUALA LUMPUR: DAP’s strategy of wiping out MCA and Gerakan candidates in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14) will be detrimental to the Chinese community as they will have lesser representatives in the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this in relation to DAP’s plan of fielding its top guns at parliamentary seats currently held by MCA and Gerakan leaders, with the intention of putting an end to their political careers.
Najib warned that should more MCA and Gerakan leaders be eliminated in the polls, it would be a big mistake as it would, in a way, handicap the Chinese community.
“That strategy, if it works, will only be to the detriment of the Chinese community because we need strong Chinese representation in the government.
“The Chinese make up 23 per cent of the population but only six per cent of Members of Parliament support the government, and that is not sustainable in the long run,” he said in his speech during the Kuen Cheng High School campus redevelopment opening ceremony.
Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who is also MCA president and MCA youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
Last month, it was announced that DAP’s Johor chairman and incumbent Kluang Member of Parliament Liew Chin Tong would contest the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, which is currently held by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
In Teluk Intan, Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming would take on Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
Speaking further, the prime minister said the reason DAP was doing so was because they believed that there would be a “Malay tsunami” in GE14, which Najib said would not happen.
“The cutthroat strategy of DAP to contest directly against MCA and Gerakan national leaders is a big mistake if the Chinese community were to believe what the DAP is saying.
“Because that strategy is based on the underlying hypothesis that there will be Malay tsunami during this election.
“I can assure you, by going around the country, that there will be no Malay tsunami against the government,” he added.
Earlier this month, opposition leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had claimed that there would be a Malay tsunami in the polls, although he did not explain how he came up with that conclusion.
Regardless of the accusations thrown by the opposition, Najib said the Barisan Nasional government has proven that it is capable of creating stability and predictability for the people.
On top of that, he said, the country had also managed to avoid two recessions when other countries were facing crises in 2009 and 2016.
“We have been consistent for the past nine years and this is because of the prudent stewardship of the government. For businessmen, you would need stability and predictability.
“If you want certainty, the BN government can provide that for you and we have delivered change, transformation, peace, stability and harmony,” Najib said.