Lau: PN study shows non-Muslim support rose from 1pct to 7pct

 

INTERVIEW | A study by Perikatan Nasional has revealed that its support among peninsular Malaysia-based Chinese and Indians has increased beyond the one percent it garnered in the 15th general election.

This was revealed by Gerakan president Dominic Lau, who told Malaysiakini in an interview that support among non-Malays in Selangor, for instance, had improved to around six and seven percent.

"If we want PN to win during the six-state elections, we not only have to maintain Malay support but also increase non-Malay and non-Muslim support," he said.

Lau said that he received a lot of complaints from the non-Malays, mostly on how the new unity government failed to keep its promises, especially in controlling inflation, after seven months in power.

"If you are unhappy, vote PN. If you are unsatisfied, vote PN," he said.

Building trust

Gerakan will be fielding 36 candidates - mostly in non-Malay majority constituencies - in the upcoming elections across four states.

Lau could not reveal the list of seats that will be allocated to the party, stressing the coalition will only reveal details on July 27.

He explained that although the number of seats allocated to each party has been confirmed, there is still the possibility of last-minute changes.

The party has very high hopes for this election, as it has not won a single election since 2013.

However, Lau was very candid when asked what would be considered the party's goal for this election.

"We will break the zero mark, the more the better," he said.

Lau explained that Gerakan's biggest challenge was convincing the public to support them, even if they spoke the truth.

"(In contrast) even if the DAP says something that is not true, people will believe them. This is our biggest challenge," he said.

One example he cited was DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng's controversial speech where he accused PAS-ruled Kedah of demolishing Hindu temples and warning that the same problem could arise in Penang if PN was in power there.

Following this, Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong refuted Lim's remark and claimed that four Hindu temples in Penang had been demolished between 2008 and 2016.

Tangible results

Meanwhile, Lau promised that the PN manifesto will provide the six states with a concrete plan and promises that can truly be fulfilled.

"During PN meetings, we comb through every detail. Can this (promise) be fulfilled? How much will it cost?

"We want to discuss this in detail because we want to govern," he said.

He added that the plan will have practical solutions, thus providing tangible results.

"Our manifesto will not be like Pakatan Harapan's, which merely states things that won't be done, or promising things that cannot be achieved.

"We can even show you what we can accomplish after 100 days in office," he said. - Mkini

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This is the first article in a three-part series. The original article in Chinese can be accessed here.