The Penang lawmaker said it was a “game of no return” if PH allows itself to embrace racial politics. “The massive shift of Chinese support was rather apparent against PH,” he said in a statement today. The Penang deputy chief minister II pointed out that the shift was double that of Malay voters. “In the Tanjung Piai by-election, the battle was fought on national rather than local issues,” he said.

He also said PH was paying for its idleness since the election victory last year. “It was not so much the Malay dignity congress per se, but the extent of racism and bigotry that angered the non-Malays,” he said. He said the use of the term “Orang Asing” (foreigners) on the ethnic Chinese and Indians in the country despite over 60 years of nationhood has made the non-Malays feel unwelcome in their own country.

“Having lived in the country for generations, Chinese and Indians were given the impression that they were not acceptable as citizens,” he said. He also blamed the shift on PH’s failure to fulfil its promises in its election manifesto, such as the approval for Lynas in Pahang, the slow pace on the recognition of United Examinations Certificate (UEC), along with the policy on Jawi calligraphy.

“Moreover, the instability as a result of leadership succession, the rifts within PKR and most importantly the lack of confidence among both local and foreign investors gave an impression that all was not well with the PH government,” he said.