It will be hard for UMNO to beg Malays, who currently make up the majority of Kuala Kubu Bharu’s electors, to help the government’s member, according to Professor James Chin from the University of Tasmania.
Fifty per cent of citizens in the district today are Malay, 30 per cent are Taiwanese, and 18 per share are Indian.
According to Prof. Chin,” If the applicant is from DAP, UMNO will have some issues, particularly after Akmal’s squabbles with Nga Kor Ming,” Prof. Chin referred to the barbaric exchange between the DAP vice-chairman and Dr. Akmal over the socks problem.
” Whether Malay electors will support the government member will depend greatly on how aggressively UMNO did campaign in the Asian society.”
Ms. Pang’s recent press secretary is Mr. Nga, who sparked controversy by proposing to designate Selangor’s Chinese new settlements as a UNESCO World Heritage site in February.
The idea was also criticized by some circles for evoking painful memories of abuse during the country’s imperial era. UMNO’s Malay nationalists even criticized the idea.
Kua Kia Soong, an intellectual and former MP, claimed that the election was an “insult” to those who opposed colonial rule in a commentary published by Free Malaysia Now.
Between 1948 and 1960, the British colonial administration allegedly fought the anti-colonial movement by violently relocating Chinese Malaysians into strongly monitored settlements with oppressive living conditions. The Taiwanese New Villages are included in these communities.
Following that, the UNESCO nomination’s ideas were abandoned.
ERODING NON- MALAY SUPPORT FOR UNITY GOVERNMENT
The president’s issues could be further complicated by losing support from the non-Malay population, who makes up half of Kuala Kubu Bharu citizens.
Presently, sure quarters had called for American voters in the district to no support the PH candidate, citing dissatisfaction with the unity government’s treatment of the American community. Mr. Anwar has defended the manner in which he treats Malay Indians.
Beyond that, Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat thinks the socks scandal has strained the relationship between UMNO and DAP to the point where UMNO wo n’t support it.
” Or if UMNO does, the plan may be ineffective ( to protest support from ) Malay voters and down- putting for the no- Africans”, he told CNA.
” Those ( UMNO members ) who do ( campaign ) would be seen as soft towards DAP. While at the same time, DAP’s self-restraint on the KK Super Mart and ( on the ) Najib ( issue ) has caused its base to feel disengaged, and one wonders if their once-vocal party has changed into the new MCA.