Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan has joined the league of liberal Umno leaders to refute the claim by BN head Najib Abdul Razak that the coalition’s abysmal performance in the 13th general election was due to a “Chinese tsunami”.
In an interview with Chinese-language dailyNanyang Siang Pau, he said the election results were a continuation of the 2008 general election, with young voters leaning toward Pakatan Rakyat.
Citing Shah Alam where BN candidate Zulkiflil Nordin was defeated by Khalid Samad of PAS, Mohamad (right) noted that the defeat in the parliamentary constituency - where Malays make up 85 percent of the electorate - was due to the selection of candidate.
As such, he said, the Chinese should not be blamed just because the BN failed to win in Chinese-dominated constituencies.
“Many people have said (the 13th) general election (outcome was affected by a) 'Chinese tsunami'," he was quoted as saying.
In an interview with Chinese-language dailyNanyang Siang Pau, he said the election results were a continuation of the 2008 general election, with young voters leaning toward Pakatan Rakyat.Citing Shah Alam where BN candidate Zulkiflil Nordin was defeated by Khalid Samad of PAS, Mohamad (right) noted that the defeat in the parliamentary constituency - where Malays make up 85 percent of the electorate - was due to the selection of candidate.
As such, he said, the Chinese should not be blamed just because the BN failed to win in Chinese-dominated constituencies.
“Many people have said (the 13th) general election (outcome was affected by a) 'Chinese tsunami'," he was quoted as saying.
"(It would be) more appropriate (to say that) Chinese voters did not support MCA and Gerakan, while Umno's position has been strengthened.”
Mohamad explained that Umno had begun its transformation after 2008, but that MCA and Gerakan did not take heed of lessons in 2008.
One factor behind their poor showing, he said, was that they had insisted on fielding unwinnable candidates partly due to political maneouvering for their upcoming party polls.
Mohamad said he disagrees with former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam(left), who had described Chinese voters as “ungrateful” and “racist” following his defeat in the Bukit Katil parliamentary constituency.
“He lost Bukit Katil, but the BN did not lose in all parliamentary seats. So, he should not generalise and label the Chinese as ungrateful and racist.”
He added that it was the support of Chinese voters that had helped him defend the Rantau state seat and assisted the BN to keep control of Negri Sembilan.
In a related development, Mohd Ali claimed that he had received only 1.5 percent of the Chinese vote in Bukit Katil.
According to Berita Harian, he said that was the main reason for his failure.
Chinese voters make up 40.75 percent of the electorate in Bukit Katil, which had recorded a turnout rate of 88.6 percent on May 5.
Mohamad explained that Umno had begun its transformation after 2008, but that MCA and Gerakan did not take heed of lessons in 2008.
One factor behind their poor showing, he said, was that they had insisted on fielding unwinnable candidates partly due to political maneouvering for their upcoming party polls.
Mohamad said he disagrees with former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam(left), who had described Chinese voters as “ungrateful” and “racist” following his defeat in the Bukit Katil parliamentary constituency.“He lost Bukit Katil, but the BN did not lose in all parliamentary seats. So, he should not generalise and label the Chinese as ungrateful and racist.”
He added that it was the support of Chinese voters that had helped him defend the Rantau state seat and assisted the BN to keep control of Negri Sembilan.
In a related development, Mohd Ali claimed that he had received only 1.5 percent of the Chinese vote in Bukit Katil.
According to Berita Harian, he said that was the main reason for his failure.
Chinese voters make up 40.75 percent of the electorate in Bukit Katil, which had recorded a turnout rate of 88.6 percent on May 5.
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