BNBBC: Incorrect to ascribe low support to ‘Chinese Tsunami’

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MAKING SUPP’S STAND: Ranum (centre) speaking to the press in the presence of (from left) Phang, Fu, Andrew and Lee.

KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) is of the opinion that it is incorrect to describe the declining support for BN in the 13th General Election (GE13) as a ‘Chinese Tsunami’, as had been done by certain quarters.

“We in the state BNBBC do not agree that ‘Chinese Tsunami’ happened because we know that the Chinese still support BN so we will not get carried away with this kind of racist political statement,” said its chairman Abdullah Saidol in a press conference at State Legislative Assembly building here yesterday.

The Semop assemblyman stated that BN’s loss in areas such as Sarikei, Sibu and Miri to the opposition would only
mean that the coalition needed to work harder for the upcoming state election.

BN through SUPP contested in seven parliamentary seats during GE13 – Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sibu, Lanang, Miri and Sarikei. Out of that number, the party only managed to retain Serian, which is a Bumiputera majority seat, through Datuk Richard Riot Jaem.

State BNBBC member Ranum Mina from SUPP echoed Abdullah’s sentiment, saying there was no such thing as ‘Chinese Tsunami’ because many Chinese supported BN in GE13.

The Opar assemblyman thus said it was unfair to blame the Chinese for the dwindling support for BN, particularly referring to the latest newspaper report – ‘What else do the Chinese want?’.

“The issue that was brought up is a racial issue and it is very dangerous to our nation especially in a state like
Sarawak. We are multi-racial and in fact, Sarawakians are the first to practise 1Malaysia.”

Despite the setbacks experienced by BN in GE13, Ranum was confident that the government would continue to take care of all races.

“We in SUPP want continuous cooperation among all races. Even though we only managed to win one seat, that didn’t mean that the Chinese had totally rejected BN.”

Describing the accusations made by the opposition, especially DAP, during the GE13 campaign period as irrelevant, Ranum said all the opposition wanted to do was to twist the mindset of the people, especially the younger generation, to win their votes.

“They always say ‘Change’ but I want to ask them what change do they want? Is it for good or bad? If the opposition really study the country’s history, they will know that the nation has experienced a lot of changes in areas such as education and economy.”

Ranum also dismissed allegations by the opposition that the government was bias in awarding scholarships to
students, adding they were awarded based on merits.

Meanwhile, political secretary to the chief minister Fu Kut Poh called on the government to continue bringing development to the Bumiputera community in rural areas and include them in its transformation programmes.

“I would like to enlighten the prime minister that not all SUPP areas are Chinese majority. Like in Sibu, around 30 per cent of the voters are Bumiputera. Bumiputeras who are supporters of BN also from a significant percentage of voters in Sarikei and Lanang.”

The press conference was also attended by political secretaries to the chief minister Phang Dah Nan, Andrew Shilling and Suzanne Lee.