Stop being 'yes-men' to Umno, Chinese parties told

Chinese parties in the BN can avoid being rendered irrelevant in the Chinese community once they stop acting "subservient" to Umno, said Chinese education pressure group Dong Zong.

The group said this is because the "failure" of parties - including MCA, SUPP and Gerakan - to "check the dominance" of "big brother Umno" had caused a drain of votes from the BN.

On top of failing to meaningfully represent the Chinese community, the NGO said that MCA is now being "utterly irresponsible and insensitive" by saying that the community will be sidelined as a result of their votes.

"It is imperative that MCA undergo serious soul-searching in response to their poor showing in the general election.

"We feel that it is no more an issue of whether there will be any representatives from MCA, Gerakan or SUPP in the government, but that they must reverse their erstwhile subservient attitude or be rendered totally irrelevant in our society," it said.

'Unfair policies to blame'

It added that the poor support from the Chinese community also stems from a combination of "instigations" by "irresponsible politicians" and "inequitable and irrational policies".

It said that the unhappiness with lopsided policies extends to all races, and not just the Chinese, thus negating BN's claim that it suffered from a "Chinese tsunami".

"In some of the Malay-dominated constituencies contested by all-Malay candidates, those from PAS have emerged as winners, (showing) that the people are not happy with the government's policies irrespective of race," it said.

Meanwhile, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) said that statements trying to attribute the election results to any race is an "intellectula insult" which can undermine racial harmony.

"The 13th general election voting trends was not influenced by racial sentiments... rather it is the voice of a nation.

"The Malay community plays a core role in Malaysian politics. The Malay essence of Malay identity is Islam and thus, Malay political thought should be based on Islam.

"Islam rejects racial discrimination and narrow sentiments," Abim president Amidi Abd Manan added.