MCA wishes to congratulate Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam and the entire BN machinery for the success in retaining the Pelangai state seat in yesterday’s (Oct 7) by-election.
The victory is a result of long hard work by BN and its component parties, namely UMNO, MCA and MIC in working the ground to ensure the legacy of the late Datuk Seri Johari Harun could continue under the leadership of Amizar and Pahang BN led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
MCA is grateful to voters in the Pelangai constituency for continuing to place their trust in BN.
Over the past two weeks, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (main pic, far left) had personally led MCA’s efforts in campaigning for Amizar in Pelangai by attending multiple events and meeting up with local residents and supporters.
His exemplary leadership and personal touch were so important for MCA in rolling out an effective campaign for BN.
Also, kudos to MCA Pahang state liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Hoh Khai Mun and Bentong MCA Division chairman Datuk Kang Meng Fuat as well as the entire MCA team who had worked hard in connecting with voters and getting out the vote.
MCA Bentong has tried its level best to identify 2,974 Chinese voters in the Pelangai state constituency which encompasses the voting district of Telemong, Sungai Gapoi, Sungai Perdak and Manchis.
MCA had set up a call centre and received feedback from 1,120 or 37.66% of the Chinese voters in Pelangai who are MCA members. We managed to identify 998 of these members to vote for BN.
Our get-out-the-vote (GOTV), PACABA (polling agent, counting agent & barung agent) and transportation teams worked tirelessly yesterday (Oct 7) to ensure good turnout among the Chinese voting population in Pelangai.
As a result, BN received 878 and 805 votes respectively in the two main Chinese-majority district voting centres (PDM) in Pelangai, namely Telemong and Manchis.
For Sungai Gapoi another Chinese-based voting district, BN garnered 772 votes compared to Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) 33, hence a majority of 739 votesy. In Sungai Perdak, BN won by a 238-vote majority with BN capturing 267 votes compared to PN’s 29.
MCA is grateful that the all the 998 members it has reached out in Telemong (396), Manchis (379), Sungai Gapoi (161) and Sungai Perdak (62) have turned up to vote and given BN a resounding support.
Overall, this voting pattern shows that the Chinese community is warming up to voting for BN and has no issue with an UMNO candidate. MCA as well as Chinese voters have been consistent and committed to defending the concept of moderation in governing the country.
MCA is also comforted by the fact that even in the face of adversities such as high cost of living and inflation, the Chinese community still believes in a firm and effective check-and-balance to the growing influences of the “green wave” in Peninsular Malaysia.
Moving forward, political parties in BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) should also view the Chinese voting bloc as an important one. MCA is still a very grassroots-based party and attributes BN winning the Pelangai state seat to the strong relationship between our members and those working on championing the needs of the locals.
This party will continue to build on that strength. – Oct 8, 2023
Datuk Dr Pamela Yong is the Institute of Strategic Analysis & Policy Research (INSAP) deputy chairman.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: MCA’s Facebook
