Newly-minted Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin has conceded that the Chinese voters in Bukit Gantang needed more convincing as “they have a pragmatic attitude”.

“However, it does not mean that the BN will spend more time campaigning for Chinese support. We pay equal attention to all voters,” he said when met at a Gerakan dinner with the Chinese community in Simpang, Changkat Jering, last night.

The 450-table dinner was organised by a Chinese guild and was held in an open field, which was soggy due to a continuous drizzle.

He denied that the BN is already in the 'comfort zone' with the Malay voters as BN campaigners have been seen to be very aggressive with their onslaught in the Chinese areas.

According to Muhyiddin, Chinese voters just "need a little more time to be convinced" than the Malay voters because they have a "pragmatic" attitude.

bukit gantang by election gerakan ceramah dinner 030409 04 Elaborating, he said the Chinese voter knows what is right for the community. “Hence, we have to explain more.”

"Malay voters are quite easy to discuss things with. With the Chinese, we need a little more time. That is why we need to explain a bit more to them (about our policies) by meeting them directly or with their leaders," he said.

Muhyiddin who appeared jovial over the overwhelming attendance of 2,800 people from the Chinese community at the dinner, said they have been receiving positive responses and this proved that the BN machinery has been "very effective".

Prominent BN leaders present at the function were Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MCA vice-president Dr Ng Yen Yen and PPP’s T Murugiah.

Chinese’s changing attitude

The Umno bigwig also claimed that the attitude of the Chinese towards BN in Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau (Kedah) and Batang Ai (Sarawak) "have changed for the better".

“This is from the positive feedback we have received from our people on the ground,” he said.

According to him, the power transfer from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Najib Abdul Razak today has also contributed to the change in attitude.

bukit gantang by election gerakan ceramah dinner 030409 02 "With the new leadership in Umno and in the government, God willing, we will have a new line-up in the cabinet and it looks like they are placing high hopes with these new changes," he said.

With a new prime minister, Muhyiddin added, the government has adopted a catchy approach - 'One Malaysia', where the government will undertake serious reforms in implementing their policies.

"A new leadership, a new confidence, a new spirit," said Muhyiddin.

Addressing the function earlier, Dr Koh Tsu Koon claimed that the PAS candidate and ousted Perak MB Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin could not get much Malay support now and this was why he has been paying a lot of attention on Chinese and Indian voters.

bukit gantang by election bn candidate 240309 ismail saffian Meanwhile, BN candidate Ismail Saffian who made a late appearance at the function was introduced by Zambry who described him as someone who "always smile".

"Synonymous with his name, 'Ismile' Saffian ( left ) is our candidate now that he likes to smile. Before this, he used to complain that he does not like his smile because he doesn’t have perfect teeth," said Zambry to laughter and applause from the crowd and Ismail himself.