Press Statement of LDP Deputy President, Datuk Chin Su Phin

KOTA KINABALU: The outcome of the just concluded Sarawak state election showed the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition are still not fully aware of the needs of the masses, particularly the Chinese community, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) deputy president Datuk Chin Su Phin.

He said although Sarawak BN retained the two thirds majority by winning 55 of the 71 seats, but the votes received dropped to 55 per cent from 63 per cent the coalition garnered in the previous state election.

"This means that almost half of the popular votes went to the Opposition," said Chin when commenting on the April 16 Sarawak state polls yesterday.

“In the Chinese majority seats, about 80 per cent of the votes went to the Opposition, particularly the DAP which won 13 of the 19 seats that are mainly concentrated in the urban areas. Even the PKR won three seats of which one a predominantly Dayak area," he said in a statement.

According to Chin, both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin knew what the pressing issues were in Sarawak well before the election.

He reckoned that Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud should be thankful to Najib and Muhyiddin, and the entire Federal Cabinet members who went all out campaigining for the BN during the
election.

"It was the first time we saw both the PM and DPM campaigned together for one week; if not for the two leaders the result of the Sarawak state election would have been different and that BN might have failed to
get a two thirds majority."

On the shocking defeat of SUPP president Tan Sri George Chan, Chin contended that Chan knew of fact that the people there wanted Taib to step down as Chief Minister. Besides, both Najib and Muhyiddin were aware of the distinctive situation in Sarawak where the Chief Minister's party is in control of majority of the state seats and could do nothing at the moment if Taib chooses to keep the Chief Minister's post.

"As a result, SUPP became the victim. Had the issue of Sarawak's chief minister been settled before the election, SUPP would not have lost heavily. The Chief Minister's issues need to be look into seriously by the
Prime Minister," he said. Chin also suggested that Najib needs not have to rush in calling for a snap general election in view of the fact that about 80 per cent of the votes from the Chinese community were with the Opposition.

"If Taib chooses to remain as Chief Minister until next general election, I strongly believe that the BN will lose the predominantly Chinese and mixed areas to the Opposition," he said, adding that over in Sabah, the same leadership issue is adversely affecting the Sabah BN coalition.

"The Sarawak state election is not something that the BN should be proud of because 80 per cent of the Chinese votes were with the Opposition. 

Shouldn’t the BN not worry about this?," said Chin, adding that the Prime Minister should be brave enough to effect changes in the BN leadership in the two states.

Chin alleged that the Sabah BN leadership exploited powers and influences to gain the supports from the Chinese Chambers of Commence and religious bodies.

He lamented that it is sad to see that certain leaders from the Chinese Chambers of Commerce and religious bodies were involved in and making political statements to the media for their own agenda.

"The Prime Minister should re-look into the situation in Sabah and change the State BN leadership as soon as possible and not wait until the next general elections. We believe Sabah Umno have adequate leaders from
their own ranks to take over and effect the changes.

"Apart from the Chinese, many from the other communities are also unhappy with the present State BN leadership. We all see the problems in Sabah and I hope other BN component parties are brave enough to speak up.

"In the 2008 general election, Gerakan almost lost all the seats it contested due to political tsunami and today, SUPP was dealt with the same fate, so there is a great urgency to resolve the pressing BN leadership issue
in Sabah before the next general election comes," Chin cautioned.

He said the Chinese community in Sabah is not anti-BN government and in fact appreciated the government contributions including the allocation of financial grants to schools and religious bodies.

"I believe that issues such as concerning the Bible and illegal immigrants are not the reason for the people to vote for the Opposition in Sabah and Sarawak. The main reason is that they have lost confidence in the BN leadership of the state. 

Another reason is the Chinese dislike certain BN leaders who always make sensitive issues in Parliament and to the media.

"I concur with Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin's statement that what we are facing now is the problem of leadership.

"The LDP will bring up issues affecting the BN and people of Sabah in the next BN supreme council meeting," Chin added.