Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin admitted that there is unhappiness among Chinese voters towards the Pakatan Harapan government.
However, he said they should give the coalition more time to fix legacy problems especially involving the economy, adding that he had at least one solution in mind.
He also believed that this unhappiness would not result in protest votes at the coming by-election at Tanjung Piai.
“What is interesting, is that as much as they’re not happy with Harapan, they are not ready to swing to BN.
“(It is not) that they will abandon Harapan, they are criticising the leadership which is something I also face with the Malays,” he said at a press conference in Tanjung Piai today.
He added that neither BN’s Wee Jeck Seng nor Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam would be able to solve the economic problems, whereas Harapan’s Karmaine Sardini would have Putrajaya’s ear.
Last month a Tanjung Piai field survey by the Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) found that only about 40 per cent of the Chinese respondents were planning to vote for the party they chose 18 months ago in GE14.
It also predicted that Chinese voters, especially those living and working outstation, would be hesitant to cast their votes.
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said that economic downtrends happen over time and not just because of a change in government.
These issues, he said, took time to resolve.
Meanwhile, as a measure to boost the economy, Muhyiddin proposed that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng introduce a stimulus package.
He said he hoped this could be done by reviewing the federal budget for next year.
“During BN’s time, when there was an economic slowdown, we would pump in (money), a few billion, maybe two, three or four billion.
“If growth goes up by one or two per cent, this can stymie an economic slump,” the former deputy prime minister said.
He said for the benefit of the whole country, he plans to discuss this in the cabinet this week. – Malaysiakini