KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Jan 2009: The MCA will not take the trust from Chinese Malaysian voters lightly following their increased support for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Kuala Terengganu by-election, said MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat tonight.
“I was told that Chinese support for BN had actually increased compared with the last general election,” he said in his blog, www.ongteekeat.net.
“Despite the unfavourable result, I would like to thank the Chinese voters for staying with MCA during this difficult time,” he added.
In the by-election, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut of PAS won by a majority of 2,631 votes after garnering 32,883 votes against BN’s Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh’s 30,252 votes.
Ong said the people had, through the ballot, demonstrated that “aspirations of yesterday can be different from today or even tomorrow.”
“We are now even more determined to work harder to serve the people the way they want to be served. We can no longer think we know better,” he stressed.
The MCA chief said the outcome of the by-election would “strengthen our courage to change and accept that what we strive for the nation may not totally reflect what the people want.”
He said there were differences as well as common ground and BN must learn and appreciate better these differences “for us to shape a better tomorrow.” — Bernama
myop101 says
I would be truly disappointed if more Malaysians of Chinese descent in Kuala Terengganu voted for MCA, a party that went silent on issues relating to the rights of minorities.
Surely by now they should realise who the real champions of Malaysians are – not some race-based party that keeps harping on hudud while remaining silent when their political masters proclaim Malaysia as an Islamic state.
Woman in Malaysia says
I wonder where Ong Tee Keat got his information from. How sure is he that MCA has received increased Chinese [Malaysian] support? I really doubt it.
PM says
OTK, please continue in your sweet dream about more Chinese support for MCA in the KT election. That is the way to go to bring the whole MCA house down.
bangsa cina says
MCA, what say you about this convincing wing by Pakatan Rakyat?
The Chinese [Malaysian] are not afraid of hudud law. Like I say, whatever existing law will not apply as long as you are a law-abiding citizen. Only criminals or people with bad intentions are afraid of hudud.
For example, those from political parties who are worried about losing their hand.
Pratamad says
No, don’t jump the gun yet. We should not discount the possibility of MCA trying to take credit for something that may be only a half-truth.
Full details are not in yet, especially for comparison with the 2008 results. Also, was it an increase by absolute count or in proportion? It makes a difference, especially with the drop in turnouts, most probably from Chinese [Malaysian] voters who are outstation.
Lee Wee Tak says
Despite the presence of DAP campaigning for PAS, the Chinese [Malaysians] actually rejected Pakatan Rakyat. Why? I am guessing here:
1) they feel that since the federal government is under BN, no point damaging their right to development funds, especially during economic downturn. But sorry mate, you ain’t gonna get it now.
2) PAS’s adamant stand on the Islamic state issue. Fine, you can have your say but voters can still decide. PAS might have scored with Muslims who prefer an Islamic state but ended up losing some Chinese [Malaysian] votes?
PAS untuk semua is still the better rallying call?
Justine says
MCA can ignore the signs at its own peril. The electorate is now more mature and well informed by way of cyberspace and not through the government-controlled mainstream media which gave one-sided coverage of the elections just like during last year’s 12th general election.
The show of solidarity and presence of Pakatan Rakyat big guns during the run-up has shown the people of Terengganu that PR is united in its effort to represent the rakyat.
“Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”
BNObserver says
MCA is in self-denial mode again.
Increased Chinese support for the BN, but it still lost the war!
Why did the Chinese and other Malaysians abandon BN when they were getting the bulk of the votes for the past 50 years?
Do your own soul searching.
Devan says
The end of racist parties is already in sight…..
The prayers of Makkal Sakhti, which started in nearly all temples, is being answered one by one………
Mike Cheam says
The qualitative analysis of the election results showed that the Chinese Malaysian vote for the Opposition has in fact increased. Journalists are well advised to refer to qualitative data before making unsubstantiated statements:
https://airkosong.com/_/2009/01/18/misinformation-by-ong-tee-kiat-on-kts-chinese-support-for-mca/
Wave33 says
The Chinese have a phobia towards hudud law. Any mention about it creates a “Tak Nak” response immediately. No matter how Raja Petra Kamarudin tries to explain or DAP says “over my mother’s grave”. The mention of hudud makes the Chinese brain immediately shut down. Yes, the Chinese have not matured in politics yet.
Even though PAS won, nothing has changed. MCA is still in control of the DUN. The Chinese still do not get it and they have failed to send a strong message to the BN.
But they will continue to go to the same kopi tiam and complain about the government.