JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 23- The principle of equality championed by the DAP is seen as a factor that drew much support from non-Malay voters for the opposition party in the 13th General Election (GE13) on May 5.
Barisan Nasional (BN) Backbenchers Club chairman, Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad (photo) said DAP emphasised on equality as they wanted to achieve the aim of making Malaysia a secular state.
“This had much influenced the non-Malay voters, especially the Chinese, in the DAP’s efforts to create a tsunami to destroy Umno.”
Shahrir said this in his speech on the theme, “The 14th General Election: Continuity of Barisan Nasional Power” at the first convention of the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak), here, Thursday.
He said the opposition’s campaign of “Anything But Umno” (ABU) had also raised the confidence of non-Malay voters that the opposition pact would be replacing BN as the ruling government after GE14.
Shahrir also pictured that PAS could be leaving the opposition pact in the GE14 as support for the Islamist party was declining including from its own members.
However, he said, this did not mean that it would benefit Umno and BN but would pose an even bigger challenge which Umno and BN must tackle wisely.
Shahrir, who is also Johor Baharu MP, suggested that in order to restore support for Umno and BN, the government show better governance before facing the GE14.
The pro-chancellor of Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN), Kedah, Datuk Dr Affifudin Omar said Umno and BN became their own victim of bringing material development.
He said there were those among the younger generation who supported Umno merely to get projects for their own business and not to champion the party’s real struggles.
Johor Islamic Religious Council adviser, Datuk Noh Gadut, meanwhile, said Umno and BN leaders must have a high level of integrity to rectify the situation they were in.
He reminded that the posts held by political leaders were not a privilege but a responsibility and trust that they must shoulder well.
– BERNAMA
