KOTA KINABALU: A call was made to stop throwing negative remarks on Chinese voters for turning their backs against the Barisan Nasional in the 13th general election.
Instead, BN leaders are urged to find ways and means to win their hearts back.
“While everyone is denying the Chinese Tsunami, I am here to confirm that it happened. For the past few months there have been negative comments on the Chinese, some are saying that since the Chinese had voted against the BN, they should not be helped.
“I believe these remarks would just hurt the Chinese community more and they would haunt those leaders who made the remark five years from now. It is going to be a boomerang against the BN.
“Although about 80 per cent of Chinese voters voted against the BN in GE13, it is not an excuse to deny them of any kind of assistance,” said acting Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM) president Chang Ko Youn, yesterday.
“So, to ensure that the Chinese voters return to BN, it is better to find the right strategy rather than having to explain why they were trashed five years back,” he said when launching the 17th Sabah Gerakan Delegates Conference, here.
Earlier in his speech, he said BN used to lose the Indian voters’ votes, but they managed to win their hearts back.
“So the same should be done to the Chinese voters,” he said.
He blamed the opposition for “playing with the Chinese voters’ emotions” and throwing empty promises to get their votes.
“DAP (Democratic Action Party) had misled the Chinese voters. They played with emotions and spread lies.
“But although they may have shown little interest with BN for the last few years, the Chinese community should not be alienated, because if you do, they will remember what you have said and ask you back five years from now,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, on another issue, Chang said all was geared up for the party election which is scheduled on Oct 26 at Menara PGRM, the party’s headquarters.
As of July and August, nearly 1,800 branches and 156 divisions have completed their annual general meetings (AGM) and elections, and eight states will undergo elections, while four others, namely Terengganu, Kelantan, Johor and Kedah saw their respective state chairmen unopposed.
He said after two successive defeats in both the 2008 and 2013 general elections, PGRM could not afford to be split and fighting.
“PGRM needs to strengthen itself in order not to face another wipe- out in the next general election,” Chang stressed.