YOURSAY | It's too late to change their mentality, except for their children.'

Chinese voters, MCA and DAP members caught in dilemma

Jaguh: Sad to note that there are many rural Chinese who are all so easily taken in by empty promises. Any government of the day can and would be responsible to bring development. It's not only BN that can.

They are blinded by false hopes. It's too late to change their mentality, except for their children.

Iiiizzzziiii: All those interviewed are simple-minded folks who just want to be left alone to their daily lives and activities. They all needed some help in overcoming challenges in putting food on the table to feed their families.

For them, national issues and corruption are not the main triggering points in deciding who to vote. It's a classic Third World mentality. They will vote for whoever can bring development to their area and help ease the burden of eking out a living.

I suppose if you want their votes, you may have to promise the moon and the stars. Perhaps this aspect of reality has been ignored by some politicians.

Ian2003: Providing basic amenities are the responsibility of the government of the day. Being held to ransom in return for our basic right is in itself a good reason to get rid of the existing government.

If we accept these amenities in exchange for votes, then by that very action we ourselves are just as corrupt as the existing government.

Worse, we continue to empower the corrupt to govern us and forever. We will be in their shackles as we are just as corrupt for voting them in exchange for development, when development is our right.

FellowMalaysian: Based on the Malaysiakini ground report, I believe two very important messages can be gleaned from the Chinese community who are voting on Saturday: first, it looks like there are quite a few Chinese who remain ambivalent about which party to vote.

This is rather surprising indeed, considering the past nine days of Pakatan Harapan's hard work and campaigning. There are folks who still believe that voting BN would bring development to their towns and villages.

Secondly, those who vote for BN have the impression that they are voting for MCA or Gerakan but in truth, they are voting for Umno's candidates.

It is a fallacy that voting Umno would bring development. Indeed, what has BN-Umno done for Kuala Kangsar or Sekinchan the past 50 years?

Lastly, there was no mention of votes for PAS, not even a slight hint, and Harapan's team deserves a pat on the back for making PAS history.

Quigonbond: The Chinese in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar should look back to 1998 when there was a Malay tsunami against former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

But the Chinese voted with BN, resulting in a return of the BN government. Najib's popularity among the Malays is low now.

If most Malays can see that PAS' pretensions with hudud is just cynical political manoeuver, then PAS is really not much good with anything else because the professionals have crossed to Amanah - and in this case, the clear choice is to vote for Amanah.

There's a definite swing of Malays against Umno. The Chinese have dreamt of a change of government so that the country can finally progress on education, fair elections, good governance and economic fairness.

If you swing back to BN because they will help you build a town hall or a bridge, you are simply sabotaging your future. The progressive Malays will be justified to hate you for your myopic vision.

From Penang: It is clear that BN will continue to rule for a long, long time despite having immoral and corrupt leaders. One has to admire the clever strategy (even though immoral) that Umno worked with PAS to break up Pakatan Rakyat.

DAP, PKR and the supporters just have to admit the reality they are going to fall short in GE14, compared to the GE13 result.

Amateur: It's a pity that political awareness is still shallow nearly six decades after independence.

Most of the electorate are so self-centred and selfish that they would vote for the party that brings immediate benefits. Alas, they neglect the policies that ultimately ruin the nation and future generations.

For those who don't vote or cast spoiled votes, they are as good as supporting the present government. To alleviate the deteriorating state of the nation and show our disapproval democratically - casting your vote for the opposition is the only choice.

Mafeeah: They say the number one issue is price hikes and the goods and services tax (GST). Corruption can be treated as a secondary issue.

However, why the need for GST and price hikes if there were no pilferage and wastage? So it comes back to corruption.

As for being treated fairly, that will never happen, if you look at all the promises made in GE13 and today.

SusahKes: One interviewee said, “I was promised RM500 in 2014, but I didn’t get it."

Of course, that logic explains why they still want to vote BN, right?

Oscar Kilo: In the end, the people get the government they deserve.

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