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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

‘Slight voter swing to BN in Penang’


A Gerakan leader and a university don feel that because of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's abrasive style some Chinese voters are seen to favour Barisan Nasional.
GEORGE TOWN: If one were to believe Gerakan, there is a slight shift of Chinese support towards Barisan Nasional. They say this shift is because of Teng Chang Yeow, who was made the Penang Gerakan chief earlier this year.
Even though the shift is so slight it is enough to give BN optimism it would fare better in the coming general election, says Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe.
Wong claims that Teng’s style has won some Chinese voters and he has united BN to take on Pakatan Rakyat.
“One important element going into any political battle is unity. Teng has restored that in BN. Also, Umno has rebranded itself to please the voters.
Wong said another factor for the slight swing is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s tendency to be harsh towards critics.
He said Lim is forever attacking the previous state government and his partisan politics has made the average voter fed up.
“Lim should be forward-looking, but instead he is dwelling on the past. Where is the master plan for sustainable development?”
He also disputed Lim”s alleged remark that Pakatan has secured 95% of the Chinese vote bank ahead of the next election.
‘Focus on protest voters’
Wong claimed there is also a swing of Indian voters back to BN because “never in the country’s history, has there been a prime minister who has done so much for the community”.
From resolving vernacular educational issues to helping them restore their citizenship documentation, Najib has done much and is willing to do more for the Indian community, he said.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has done much for the community and they are comfortable with his leadership.
This should translate into votes for BN, Wong said.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Social Sciences deputy dean Sivamurugan Pandian, who defines himself as a political sociologist, somewhat agrees with Wong’s assessments but stressed that the swing in the two communities is not yet seen as a strong momentum.
There is a slight tilt of the Chinese ground towards BN here while the Indian support is better than 2008, but not on the same level of support compared to pre-2008, said Sivamurugan.
He said BN should focus on the group defined as protest voters, as they represent a major group of fence-sitters who may eventually return to the coalition.
Protest voters are described as BN supporters, who voted for the opposition in 2008 because they were unhappy with some BN leaders.

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