Chinese Malaysians not ‘beggars’, DAP MP tells Najib
(Malay Mail Online) – Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese are not “beggars” and have a democratic right to vote whoever they wish, DAP’s Anthony Loke said today.
The opposition leader added that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has no right to “take revenge” on voters who choose to cast their ballots for the opposition, in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who called on Chinese Malaysians to back the BN if they wanted more aid.
“The right and freedom to choose whichever party and candidate to represent them is something that cannot be questioned in a democracy,” Loke said in a statement in Malay.
“Hence, it becomes the responsibility of the party that forms the government to administer the country and serve all citizens without taking revenge on voters who did not support them,” the Seremban MP added.
Earlier today, Najib said Putrajaya could do more for the Chinese community, provided they give their support to BN.
“You have to do your part. You cannot demand and support DAP, you cannot demand and support PR… you demand and support BN, and we will be fair to the Chinese community,” he said when officiating at MCA’s 61st annual general meeting.
Loke today claimed that Najib’s statement assumes that the Chinese are a community of “beggars”, who constantly ask for alms but do not appreciate the hand that feeds.
The DAP leader added that if the majority who did not vote for BN in last year’s national polls cannot make demands of the government, then they should be exempt from paying taxes, including the goods and services tax which will be rolled out next year.
“We want to remind Najib that Malaysians, regardless of race, are not beggars asking for alms from the government but as Malaysian citizens, anyone has the right to demand fair and equitable treatment from the government,” Loke said.
BN has progressively lost popular support over the past two general elections, largely attributed to a “Chinese tsunami” among ethnic Chinese voters for the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
The ruling coalition, however, has also seen support wane among the Malays — their traditional vote bank largely garnered through dominant party Umno — based on the popular vote in last year’s 13th general election that also saw the PR bloc secure at least 51 per cent of all votes cast.
A survey by the University of Malaya last year found that an overwhelming 87 per cent of Chinese voters polled agreed that PR needs to win the next national polls, while 61 per cent of the Malay respondents agreed.
