Since BN has proven that it can form the federal government without Chinese support, its policies should be more bumiputera-centric, said Kosmo editor Baharom Mahusin.

 

In his article which appeared in Mingguan Malaysia - the Sunday edition of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia - Baharom said BN must show courage and implement affirmative action policies for Malays, indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak and the Indian community.

 

"The Chinese are not the king makers in Malaysian politics because even without their support, BN could continue to rule, but race relations after the 13th general election has entered a new environment," said Baharom.

Baharom said that like the middle-class Malays, the Chinese community were ungrateful towards BN and were affected by the "crisis of political liberalism".

 

"Their political (direction) is driven by another type of hidden aspiration," he said.

 

Najib must change

 

Baharom said that Najib had made a lot of effort and sacrifice to reach other to non-Malay groups, particularly the Chinese.  

 

Among others, according to Baharom, such efforts include promoting meritocracy in education and commerce and abolishing certain laws deemed unsuitable by the Chinese community, such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1964.

 

"He has sacrificed and work very hard as a prime minister for all races. However, he faces (negative) political returns from the Chinese voters, who are influenced by DAP and made worse by slander from PKR and PAS.

 

In view of this, Baharom said that Najib will have to change his tack.

 

"He cannot be the same prime minister that he was before May 5, 2013," said Baharom.

 

PAS a junior partner?

 

Meanwhile, Awang Selamat - a pseudonym for Utusan editors for its weekend editorial pieces - in the Bisik-bisik column wrote that PAS had been relegated as a junior partner in Pakatan Rakyat by DAP in Penang.

 

Awang wrote that this was clearly seen when the DAP did not make any room for PAS in its state cabinet.

 

"Awang sympathises with PAS members who worked hard and campaigned for DAP and PKR all over the country, but that is the thanks you get from (DAP secretary-general Lim) Guan Eng," he said.

 

Awang also urged Pakatan to allow PAS to take up the menteri besar's position in Selangor, given that the party now has more seats there than PKR. In Selangor, PAS has 15 state seats while PKR has 14.

 

"If the opposition, particularly DAP and PKR, are sincere about their alliance, let it show in Selangor," he said.