Urban Chinese voters worry me, says Taib

Despite the uncertainty of securing Chinese votes, Sarawak Barisan Nasional chief Taib Mahmud is confident of winning a two-thirds majority in the state polls.

KUCHING: The urban Chinese voter who is inclined to pick “someone who will bark at the government” is worrying Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

He said the opposition was always telling the Chinese community to vote for its candidates so that they could criticise the government.

“But voting the opposition means no government support… the areas lost by the Barisan Nasional-led government may not get anything, like in Taiwan or America.

“That’s the rule of the game. I must admit to being a bit worried with the attitude of urban voters to vote for someone to bark at the government.

“But without sounding boastful, BN will be able to form the next government probably with a two-third majority,” said Taib, who is also state BN chairman.

Taib was reminding the Chinese community of their responsibility to elect good leaders in the coming state election in his Chinese New Year message.

He said by chosing to elect an opposition candidate, the community was depriving the best Chinese leaders from sharing their experience with those of the Malays, Iban, Bidayuh and other communities.

More importantly, he said, the community would deprive the government of getting input if there was no effective Chinese representation in the government.

“As I started being multi-racial, I have also to think for the Chinese too. But I am helpless…there is nothing I can do to change the Chinese mindset towards the government. I cannot speak Chinese.

“The Chinese community must come up with ideas on how to make the economy inclusive of Chinese interests. They should participate instead of merely criticising from outside.

“Generally the government does not adjust its targets (programmes to develop the country) easily. So if you talk by shouting, you don’t get results,” he said.

He added that the people must learn to change their mindset to become more conscious about the interest of other races. - FMT