Daim's reject Chinese call stupid

Daim’s reject Chinese call stupid

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Hai branded former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin “stupid” for calling on the Barisan Nasional government to forsake Chinese votes and focus on the Malay votes, saying that such move will only endanger the ruling coalition.

Cheah told FMT that said it was easier for Barisan Nasional to recapture the Chinese votes than to increase the already saturated Malay votes.

“Our Malay votes have already reached its peak and the bumiputras now don’t have the feeling of the old days when their rights were being threatened and needed protection from the BN.

“Even if the table is turned and Pakatan becomes the government, the Malays know the prime minister will safeguard their rights.

“If the Chinese are pushed further, then the opposition will only need to get 45% of the Malay votes in order to form the government,” he said.

The Kedah-based leader noted that the opposition would never get less than 30% of the Malay votes because there were always people disgruntled with the government. .

“In the last round, the opposition got about 40% of the Malay votes. If BN does not work on the Chinese votes and all other races support Pakatan, BN will lose power in the next general election,” he said.

Cheah urged his Umno colleagues to ignore Daim’s statement and continue to be inclusive.