The Chinese community will not blindly vote for Pakatan Harapan in the coming Cameron Highlands by-elections or even in the next general election if the ruling coalition returns to the "corrupt and authoritative ways" of premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BN-era, MCA has warned.

MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker said the Harapan government should instead focus on fulfilling the promises it made including reducing petrol prices, abolishing tolls, recognising the United Examination Certificate (UEC), ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), reducing the cost of living and improving the economy.

"Harapan can continue to gloat about the glory of unseating BN from federal power due to multiple factors accumulated over the latter’s 61 years of rule but if Harapan is to return to the old, corrupt and authoritative ways of the Mahathir era, he will bring to Harapan what he brought to BN.

"We can all see beyond the window dressing and soon the Chinese voters will reject DAP too. […] their excuses are wearing thin, they are now predictable and (are) the butt of jokes," Ti said in a statement today.

The return to the old BN tendencies, he said, could be seen with the stance extolled by Bersatu vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman recently that government resources should be used, and positions and contracts awarded, to help the ruling coalition maintain power "by hook or by crook".

Abdul Rashid's statement, however, was rejected by Mahathir himself, as well as other Harapan leaders.

Even so, Ti stated: "Do not expect the Chinese to blindly vote for Harapan at the next general election or even in the coming Cameron Highlands by-election.

"Mahathir is akin to a leopard who will not lose his spots. He has subjected the nation to numerous political crises and continues with the 'divide-and-rule' tactics of the colonial masters as a result of which MCA has suffered collateral damage by association."

Ti's rebuke came after Mahathir reportedly told a Chinese daily yesterday that the BN party should "close shop" as it has been rejected by the community.

MCA suffered a humbling defeat in the May 9 general election, winning just one parliamentary seat, Ayer Hitam, which is held by its president Wee Ka Siong.

Telling the prime minister to "leave the closing of shops to shop-owners", Ti said MCA will continue to serve the rakyat and serve as a check and balance to the government.