ANALYSIS (Malaysiakini) Traditionally, keeping a low profile during a by-election campaign is believed to work in favour of the incumbent's party because of the notion that voters are likely to maintain the status quo.
In the Tenang by-election, the MCA is doing quite the opposite in its bid to help the BN coalition surpass the 5,500 majority secured in the 2004 general election.
Under the direction of party president Dr Chua Soi Lek, MCA has launched a blitzkrieg on PAS' Islamic state agenda and candidate Normala Sudirman's refusal to shake hands with male voters.
This has received heavy coverage in the Chinese media over the past two days and is a hot topic in Tenang coffeeshops.
Chua first raised the 'hand shake' issue when visiting a Buddhist temple last Thursday, citing this as an example of how voting for PAS would lead to an Islamic state.
However, a random survey among Chinese voters revealed that most do not buy Chua's argument and instead criticised MCA for raising a “petty” issue.
Chua has also come in for criticism from several Muslim groups and Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria who claimed that he had insulted Islam and must apologise publicly.
The impact of the 'hand shake' row is now spreading, judging from adverse comments about MCA on social networking website Facebook and micro-blogging website Twitter.
In view of the
potential problems, BN deputy head Muhyiddin Yassin has told MCA to stop “exploiting” the 'hand shake' decision, which is a personal one by Normala (left).
What may seem as a mere slap on the wrist by Muhyiddin will almost likely be harped on by the opposition as a major loss of face for Chua.
On the Islamic state agenda, MCA is riding on an issue that has been flogged to death over the past 10 years, so much so that many non-Muslims have grown desensitised to this issue.
After all, many still remember then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad declaring in September 2001 that Malaysia is already an Islamic state.
Despite the wide array of issues that can be exploited, MCA has limited its scope in the Tenang campaign. It is not making efficient use of its campaign machinery, which has been the most efficient among BN parties in previous by-elections.
Leaflets and newsletters are being published on a daily basis, complete with current newspaper clippings. Full-time canvassers, armed with iPad tablet computers, have also been deployed by the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Chua's reputation at stake
One possible explanation for MCA's aggressive campaign in Tenang is that Chua is a major personality.
He spent 14 years in the Johor cabinet and was the MP for the area, a post now assumed by his son. Losing Tenang, or even seeing a reduction in Chinese votes for BN, would be unacceptable.
The majority of Chinese voters approached by Malaysiakini gave high marks to Chua's leadership and ability to deliver, but this is not the main message being highlighted by MCA's campaign material.
The appearance of the
mysterious 1Malaysia 'NGO' with goodies in Labis may also be an indicator that reinforcement is needed to woo Chinese voters.
If MCA manages to woo back more Chinese voters with the help of 1Malaysia NGO, as happened in Galas, it would still be an embarrassment to the party and Chua because it shows that both have lost their charm in their own stronghold.
The 5,617 Chinese voters make up 38.6 percent of the Tenang electorate. All the Chinese-predominant polling districts - Bandar Labis Timur, Bandar Labis Tengah and Labis - were won by PAS in the last general election in 2008.
In the Tenang by-election, the MCA is doing quite the opposite in its bid to help the BN coalition surpass the 5,500 majority secured in the 2004 general election.
Under the direction of party president Dr Chua Soi Lek, MCA has launched a blitzkrieg on PAS' Islamic state agenda and candidate Normala Sudirman's refusal to shake hands with male voters. This has received heavy coverage in the Chinese media over the past two days and is a hot topic in Tenang coffeeshops.
Chua first raised the 'hand shake' issue when visiting a Buddhist temple last Thursday, citing this as an example of how voting for PAS would lead to an Islamic state.
However, a random survey among Chinese voters revealed that most do not buy Chua's argument and instead criticised MCA for raising a “petty” issue.
Chua has also come in for criticism from several Muslim groups and Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria who claimed that he had insulted Islam and must apologise publicly.
The impact of the 'hand shake' row is now spreading, judging from adverse comments about MCA on social networking website Facebook and micro-blogging website Twitter.
In view of the
potential problems, BN deputy head Muhyiddin Yassin has told MCA to stop “exploiting” the 'hand shake' decision, which is a personal one by Normala (left).What may seem as a mere slap on the wrist by Muhyiddin will almost likely be harped on by the opposition as a major loss of face for Chua.
On the Islamic state agenda, MCA is riding on an issue that has been flogged to death over the past 10 years, so much so that many non-Muslims have grown desensitised to this issue.
After all, many still remember then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad declaring in September 2001 that Malaysia is already an Islamic state. Despite the wide array of issues that can be exploited, MCA has limited its scope in the Tenang campaign. It is not making efficient use of its campaign machinery, which has been the most efficient among BN parties in previous by-elections.
Leaflets and newsletters are being published on a daily basis, complete with current newspaper clippings. Full-time canvassers, armed with iPad tablet computers, have also been deployed by the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Chua's reputation at stake
One possible explanation for MCA's aggressive campaign in Tenang is that Chua is a major personality.
He spent 14 years in the Johor cabinet and was the MP for the area, a post now assumed by his son. Losing Tenang, or even seeing a reduction in Chinese votes for BN, would be unacceptable.
The majority of Chinese voters approached by Malaysiakini gave high marks to Chua's leadership and ability to deliver, but this is not the main message being highlighted by MCA's campaign material.
The appearance of the
mysterious 1Malaysia 'NGO' with goodies in Labis may also be an indicator that reinforcement is needed to woo Chinese voters.If MCA manages to woo back more Chinese voters with the help of 1Malaysia NGO, as happened in Galas, it would still be an embarrassment to the party and Chua because it shows that both have lost their charm in their own stronghold.
The 5,617 Chinese voters make up 38.6 percent of the Tenang electorate. All the Chinese-predominant polling districts - Bandar Labis Timur, Bandar Labis Tengah and Labis - were won by PAS in the last general election in 2008.
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