ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR: BN and Pas counting on Chinese votes to win
Permatang Pasir voters, in particular, have not forgotten how Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail once called the Chinese "pendatang" (immigrants) when campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election and the events that unfolded after it became a controversy.
Zubaidah Abu Bakar, The New Straits Times
LIKE past by-elections, Chinese voters in Permatang Pasir are being actively pursued because they could be the deciding factor in the outcome of Tuesday's by-election.
The some 5,200 Chinese voters in the state constituency can play kingmakers since the Malay votes are split between Umno and Pas.
Political heavyweights are flooding areas with a high concentration of Chinese.
Armed with information thought to be able to influence the voters, many leaders of Chinese-based parties from both sides of the political divide are knocking on their doors, sharing opinions and light moments and making promises.
Not missing either are the night ceramah and feasts where leaders, many of whom do not speak Hokkien, try to mingle with the people.
All these are nothing new to the residents of Kampung Cross Street, Permatang Pauh, Sama Gagah and Kampung Pelet, the four main polling areas where there are predominantly Chinese voters.
They were also actively sought after by politicians in August last year during the Permatang Pauh by-election. The outcome then showed that only 16 per cent of them supported the BN.
Over 25 per cent of Chinese make up Permatang Pasir's 20,290 voters. Malays comprise 72 per cent while 1.6 per cent are Indians and the remaining 0.1 per cent, others.
A lot has been attributed to the shift of support of non-Malay voters from the BN to the opposition during the political tsunami in March last year, and the Chinese in Permatang Pasir are said to support Pas.
The late Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman won in all 42 streams in the constituency last year. The seat was retained by the Pas politician with a majority of 5,433 votes.
In Permatang Pasir, the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Teoh Beng Hock, the political aide of a DAP Selangor lawmaker while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, is an issue being capitalised by the opposition. The other is the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.
They believe the evidence made public during the ongoing inquest into Teoh's death could influence voting trends among the Chinese. Pamphlets on the ongoing inquest have been distributed. Posters and banners with the late Teoh's picture have also been displayed at strategic points.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and senior MCA leaders, on their rounds in Kampung Cross Street and its vicinity on Friday, had to explain that the government had taken measures to ensure transparency in the investigation and that the people should let the authorities complete their job.
Chinese voters have also complained of being left out in development under the present and former state governments.
The BN reports indicated that the Chinese in two polling areas have warmed up to BN compared with the last general election, but this was dismissed by Pakatan Rakyat.
In general, the Chinese voters' mood towards Umno is unfavourable but not because of Teoh's death. Reports deemed racist that appeared in Umno-linked newspapers have also angered them.
Permatang Pasir voters, in particular, have not forgotten how Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail once called the Chinese "pendatang" (immigrants) when campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election and the events that unfolded after it became a controversy.
Whether the Chinese vote will lean towards BN or stay with Pas this time is left to be seen.
