KUCHING: Barisan Nasional (BN), especially SUPP, must find ways to convince voters in predominantly Chinese areas to return to the ruling coalition’s fold.
PBB deputy treasurer Datuk Naroden Majais said the results from the 10th state election in 2011 and the May 5 general election should not be taken lightly.
In both polls, SUPP suffered huge losses.
“We are not sure how, but we have to do something. We can’t afford to let it continue like this,” Naroden told The Borneo Post in his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday.
“If voters in Chinese areas continue to support the opposition, it will not be very healthy for them (Chinese). They need representatives in their areas to speak up for them.”
Naroden, who is also Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development), said BN must set aside sufficient time to rectify the situation.
“That is why I believe it is not possible to have (the state) election immediately.”
The current term of the State Legislative Assembly expires on June 19, 2016, but the chief minister has the prerogative to dissolve the assembly earlier.
“I am very doubtful that it (polls) is going to be this year. There are a lot of party elections this year, for PBB, Umno and SUPP.
“Normally, our state election is called a year earlier, so my prediction is it will be held in 2015.”
Naroden, who is also Simunjan assemblyman, believed that the setting up of a new Chinese-based party would not be a good solution as the mindset of voters would remain the same.
“Given time, we can improve ourselves and SUPP can come up with some restructuring strategies and policies to change the mindset of voters in the Chinese areas.”
He added the government had been trying its best to meet the demands of the Chinese community by, among others, increasing financial aid for Chinese education and creating conducive business environment.
“The government had also made changes to government policies to regain the confidence of disgruntled voters.
“At this point in time, we cannot say the Bumiputeras are on par with the Chinese. We are very far behind. Businesses and commerce are controlled by the Chinese.”
Naroden said all these happened because of government policies.
“There is nothing wrong with government policies. The real issue is not government policies, but the party’s (SUPP) policy …how they can tackle their own members.
“Their members can set examples to non-party members, and later on the general public will follow.”
Naroden said he believed the problem was made worse by the DAP’s success in wooing voters with lies and allegations.
“They (DAP) are successful in their propaganda, which is a disadvantage to us. Their propaganda has twisted the minds of voters. In the long term, it would not be very good.” - theborneopost
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