Worried LDP warns Sabah BN of losing support

According to LDP, both Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin knew about the 'pressing issues' in Sarawak well before the state election.

KOTA KINABALU: Chinese-dominated Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), rattled by the outcome of the just-concluded Sarawak state election, has hit out at Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership of both states for being out of touch with the feelings of the people.

LDP deputy president Chin Su Phin said the mass abandonment of the BN leadership by the people in the urban areas in Sarawak showed the degree of frustration felt in the state.

He said the same was being felt in Sabah and warned that the coalition still appeared unaware of the needs of the masses, particularly the Chinese community.

He said although BN retained a two-thirds majority (winning 55 of the 71 seats), support for the ruling coalition dropped to 55% from 63% 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.

“In the Chinese-majority seats, about 80% 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 PKR won three seats of which one is a predominantly Dayak area,” he said in a statement.

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

SUPP a victim

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud should be thankful to Najib and Muhyiddin and the entire federal cabinet members who went all out campaigning for the BN during the election, he said.

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

Chin also pointed out how BN’s Chinese-dominated component party Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) was almost wiped out, with its president Dr George Chan suffering a humiliating defeat.

He said that Chan understood his precarious position prior to the election and was aware of the inequality in the BN set-up, with Taib’s party PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) controlling the majority of the state seats.

He added that Chan could do nothing to assuage voter discontent if Taib chose to stay in power.

“As a result, SUPP became the victim. Had the chief minister issue been settled before the election, SUPP would not have lost heavily.

“In view of this, the chief minister’s issue needs to be look into seriously by Najib,” he said.

Chin also said Najib should not rush to call a snap general election because about 80% of the votes from the Chinese community went to the opposition.

“If Taib chooses to remain as chief minister until the 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. Should the BN not worry about this?”

Chin wants the BN leadership to be brave enough to effect changes in the leadership of the two states.

Political statements

The outspoken LDP leader also alleged that the Sabah BN leadership was not portraying a true picture of its support or the lack of it by the Chinese community in the state.

The state BN leadership is widely seen as having exploited its influence and powers to gain the support of the leaders within the Chinese Chambers of Commerce and religious bodies.

Chin said that certain leaders from the Chinese Chambers of Commerce and religious bodies were now making political statements to the media at the instigation of the government.

“The prime minister should re-look into the situation in Sabah and effect changes in the state BN leadership as soon as possible and not wait until the next general election.

“We believe Sabah Umno has adequate leaders from its own ranks to take over and lead the party.

“Apart from the Chinese, many from the other communities are also unhappy with the current state BN leadership. We all see the problems in Sabah and I hope other BN component parties are brave enough to speak up as well.

“In the 2008 general election, Gerakan almost lost all the seats it contested as a result of the political tsunami and today, SUPP was dealt the same fate.

“So in Sabah, there is a great urgency to resolve the pressing BN leadership issue before the next general election comes,” Chin said.

He pointed out that the Chinese community in Sabah are not anti-BN government. They appreciated the government contributions, especially financial grants allocated to schools and religious bodies, he said.

“I believe that issues 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.

“The Chinese dislike certain BN leaders who always raise sensitive issues in Parliament and to the press.

“I concur with Umno Uouth 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 said.