The battle for the 8,787 Chinese votes in Kuala Terengganu is now in full swing with both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat pulling all the stops to ensure support from the community. Chinese voters were believed to have helped BN clinch victory in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat during the last two general elections and all eyes are on whether they would reprise their role on Jan 17. PAS, who is fielding five-term Wakaf Mempelam assemblyperson Abdul Wahid Endut, has practically left all the campaigning for Chinese votes to coalition partners DAP and PKR. This was confirmed by PAS deputy-president Nasharuddin Mat Isa yesterday. DAP and PKR leaders are going all out to 'educate' locals on national issues such as corruption, the slump in the economy, the teaching of maths and science in English, the Internal Security Act and deteriorating race relations.
On the BN front, particularly MCA, has a far better grassroots following among the Chinese community. Unlike the opposition, BN campaigners are leaving aside national issues and banking on reminding voters of their long standing quid pro quo relationship with the state government. The logic behind this is that the state government, through MCA, had looked after the needs of the Chinese community and voting for the opposition would be deemed an ungrateful act. "The government is rich and has been fair in distributing the state's wealth. There may be problems faced by the Chinese in other states but not here," summed up Terengganu Chinese Assembly Hall president Foo Chih Wan.
(Source: Will they bite the 'hand that feeds'? - Malaysiakini)
Hmm....two different modes of operandi here. Looks like BN is more 'relational' as compared to PR. BN is telling the Chinese, 'Vote for us if you want us to continue to look after you.' while PR is telling the Chinese, 'Hey, look beyond Terengganu. Think of the bad policies at national level that affect the Chinese community in Malaysia.' Hehe...well, Chinese being 'clanish' (I wonder what clan Foo Chih Wan belongs to) and 'territorial', I think the battle is a tough one for PR.
Foo Chih Wan said, "There may be problems faced by the Chinese in other states but not here". Ahhh...that just goes to show that generally, the Chinese are selfish. They only look after themselves, they don't even care about Chinese from other clans, much less other states! ;)
On the BN front, particularly MCA, has a far better grassroots following among the Chinese community. Unlike the opposition, BN campaigners are leaving aside national issues and banking on reminding voters of their long standing quid pro quo relationship with the state government. The logic behind this is that the state government, through MCA, had looked after the needs of the Chinese community and voting for the opposition would be deemed an ungrateful act. "The government is rich and has been fair in distributing the state's wealth. There may be problems faced by the Chinese in other states but not here," summed up Terengganu Chinese Assembly Hall president Foo Chih Wan.
(Source: Will they bite the 'hand that feeds'? - Malaysiakini)
Hmm....two different modes of operandi here. Looks like BN is more 'relational' as compared to PR. BN is telling the Chinese, 'Vote for us if you want us to continue to look after you.' while PR is telling the Chinese, 'Hey, look beyond Terengganu. Think of the bad policies at national level that affect the Chinese community in Malaysia.' Hehe...well, Chinese being 'clanish' (I wonder what clan Foo Chih Wan belongs to) and 'territorial', I think the battle is a tough one for PR.
Foo Chih Wan said, "There may be problems faced by the Chinese in other states but not here". Ahhh...that just goes to show that generally, the Chinese are selfish. They only look after themselves, they don't even care about Chinese from other clans, much less other states! ;)
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