By Adib Zalkapli

First published in The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Malay rights group Perkasa wants the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to review election pledges made in Chinese areas in Hulu Selangor because of the community’s poor support for the coalition.

Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali (picture) said despite BN’s success in winning the semi-rural seat from PKR, the Chinese voters had largely chosen to back the federal opposition.

“It is necessary for the government to delay any allocation and approval of projects for the Chinese community,” said Ibrahim in a statement responding to the by-election result.

Ibrahim added that the government should also ignore all the demands made by BN members, MCA and Gerakan, as the Chinese of Hulu Selangor had rejected the ruling coalition.

“They show no appreciation to BN government’s efforts, even though the BN government had to hurt the feelings of the Malays and the natives,” said Ibrahim.

“All their demands are fulfilled by the government but they do not know how to be grateful,” he added.

Ibrahim, an independent MP, had actively campaigned for BN during the campaign. His Perkasa is fighting for affirmative action policies favouring Malays to be retained permanently.

In the by-election which saw BN’s P. Kamalanathan defeating former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim by 1,725 votes, the ruling coalition lost badly in Chinese dominated polling districts.

During the final campaigning days for the Hulu Selangor by-election Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised an allocation of RM3 million for a Chinese school near in new village. The BN chairman also promised RM90,000 for the Ulu Yam Kwang Tung cemetery and more allocations for Hokkien and muhibbah associations in the area.

However the support level from the Chinese voters was reduced from about 35 per cent in Election 2008 to less than 30 per cent yesterday.

BN’s victory was guaranteed by strong support from the Malay-dominated Felda settlements and villagers in rural Hulu Selangor. Ibrahim said the outcome showed that the pro-Malay affirmative action policies should be maintained.

“BN must now keep the Malay happy as they have been loyal to BN. Therefore the affirmative action policies to strengthen the Malays and the natives must be maintained and implemented thoroughly,” he said.

The BN’s victory Ibrahim added was also sign of public’s acceptance to Najib’s leadership.

“The people have begun to understand all the confusion and propaganda from Anwar and his colleagues and I am confident this is the start of the process for the people to return to the idea of upholding national stability,” he said.

Ibrahim who stood as PAS candidate in Election 2008 had been in Hulu Selangor since the start of the campaign period to ensure victory for Kamalanathan.

He had said that he backed the MIC information chief instead of Zaid who is a Malay because Kamalanathan’s views on the Federal Constitution is consistent with Perkasa.