Shahril Hamdan said failure to see a major return of Chinese voter support to PH and DAP in Negeri Sembilan after Sanusi Nor’s remarks would be a worrying sign for the coalition.PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for Sanusi Nor to stop campaigning in the Negeri Sembilan state election following his controversial remarks shows the coalition is not ready to fully commit to its cooperation with Perikatan Nasional, says Shahril Hamdan.The former Umno information chief said the response from BN’s top leadership reflected the coalition’s recognition of concerns among non-Malay voters over Sanusi’s remarks.He said BN’s cautious approach differed from the early stages of other political collaborations, which would often begin with a “honeymoon” period.Shahril said BN's approach could be due to its past experience working with PAS.“Before anything has even happened, it is already clear that Zahid wants to show they are not fully ‘all-in’ with PN yet.“Perhaps because of the experience several years ago when Umno, BN and PAS were no longer together, there is a sense of caution in not getting too excited in the early stages,” he said in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.Zahid was among those who criticised Sanusi after the Kedah menteri besar said during a ceramah that Malays only have Tanah Melayu as their homeland, while Malaysian Chinese and Indians had China and India, respectively.He subsequently told Sanusi to focus on administering Kedah instead of continuing to campaign for BN and PN in the Negeri Sembilan polls.Sanusi has since denied questioning the citizenship or rights of Malaysian Chinese and Indians.Meanwhile, Shahril said PH and DAP were relying on fear of PAS and PN as their “last card” to retain support among Chinese voters.“The message that PH and DAP have, especially to core Chinese voters, is: ‘You need to vote for us, because otherwise you will get PAS.’ That is their final argument.“But Malaysian politics has matured. Even Chinese voters who dislike PAS no longer want DAP to use this argument. They want DAP to win their support through service, not by creating fear,” he said.Shahril said if PH and DAP fail to regain Chinese voter support significantly in Negeri Sembilan following the Sanusi controversy, it would be a warning sign for the coalition.“If even your last card no longer works, that is a con…
Shahril Hamdan berkata jika sokongan pengundi Cina tak kembali kepada PH dan DAP secara besar-besaran di Negeri Sembilan berikutan kenyataan Sanusi Nor, ia bakal menjadi petanda buruk buat gabungan itu.PETALING JAYA: Tindakan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional Zahid Hamidi menyarankan Sanusi Nor tidak lagi berkempen di PRN Negeri Sembilan membuktikan gabungan itu enggan memberikan komitmen penuh terhadap kerjasama Perikatan Nasional buat masa ini.Bekas ketua penerangan Umno, Shahril Hamdan, berkata reaksi pimpinan tertinggi BN itu juga mencerminkan pengiktirafan parti berkenaan terhadap keresahan pengundi bukan Melayu berhubung kenyataan kontroversi menteri besar Kedah.Katanya, berbeza dengan fasa awal kerjasama politik lain yang selalunya melewatinya dengan suasana 'bulan madu', BN berhati-hati ekoran pengalaman perpisahan dengan PAS beberapa tahun lalu.“Belum apa-apa pun dah nampak bahawa Zahid nak menunjukkan kita memang tak ‘all-in’ kepada PN lagi.“Mungkin disebabkan pengalaman mutakhir beberapa tahun dulu di mana Umno, BN dan PAS tidak lagi bersama, ia menimbulkan rasa berwaspada untuk tidak terlalu teruja di peringkat awal,” katanya dalam episod terbaru audio siar Keluar Sekejap.Pada malam Khamis lalu, Sanusi dilaporkan berkata, “Melayu ada Tanah Melayu ini saja. Orang India ada India, orang Cina ada China, orang Kemboja ada Kemboja, orang Siam ada Thailand. Melayu di sini saja.” ketika berkempen di Negeri Sembilan.Susulan itu, Zahid mencadangkan Sanusi menguruskan pentadbirannya di Kedah dan tidak perlu datang berkempen di Negeri Sembilan menjelang hari pengundian Sabtu depan.Zahid, yang juga presiden Umno, turut menzahirkan rasa kurang senang dengan kenyataan pengarah pilihan raya PN itu sebelum ini membayangkan orang Cina dan India di Malaysia masih mempunyai ‘negara asal masing-masing’.Sementara itu, Shahril turut menyorot taktik kempen Pakatan Harapan dan DAP yang didakwanya menggunakan sentimen ketakutan terhadap PAS serta PN sebagai 'kad terakhir' untuk mengikat sokongan pengundi teras kaum Cina."Modal yang ada pada PH dan DAP terutamanya kepada pengundi asas Cina adalah, 'anda perlu undi kami, sebab kalau tidak anda akan dapat PAS.' Itu hujah final mereka."Tetapi, ada kematangan dalam politik Malaysia sekarang.
Pengundi Cina yang tak suka PAS pun, mereka tak suka DAP guna hujah ini lagi kerana mereka mahu DAP memenangi hati mereka mela…
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