Tuesday May 1, 2007
Probe into swing against BN in Ijok by-elections
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional will find out why there was a swing against the coalition in Chinese-majority areas in the Ijok by-election.
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said maybe there were reasons for it and possibly “things” that the Chinese voters were not happy about.
“We do not know what but I think we will soon be able to find out. Our partners in Barisan – MCA especially and Gerakan to a certain extent – will be able to provide us with some information. There must be a reason of course,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting yesterday.
Abdullah, who is Umno president, said the coalition would continue to talk, do their work and explain to the Chinese.
In the Ijok by-election on Saturday, Barisan candidate K. Parthiban defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Tan Sri Khalid Ibahim by a majority of 1,850 votes.
Although this was an increased majority for Barisan, in Chinese areas like Pekan Berjuntai Bestari (S), Pekan Berjuntai Bestari (U) and Pekan Ijok, the Chinese voters seemed to have swung away from the ruling coalition.
“Although we won by a bigger majority, we have decided to scrutinise whatever problems there are. The results of all five by-elections will be studied and analysed.
“This can be an important guide for us (to see) if there are messages (in there) for Barisan and Umno to improve their service to the people. We discussed our weaknesses so that we can improve,” he said.
To a question, Abdullah said the trend showed that the Malay voters were clearly supporting Barisan.
On a different matter, the Prime Minister said that on Aug 30, there would be a symbolic re-enactment of the lowering of Britain's Union Jack which would be replaced by the Jalur Jemilang at the stroke of midnight ushering in the 50th year of Malaysia's independence.
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