Chinese apathy may see PAS take Putrajaya, says ex-MCA chief

Chinese apathy may see PAS take Putrajaya, says ex-MCA chief


Dr Chua Soi Lek says low Chinese voter turnout at GE16 could see PAS take over the government even without broad support

Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek says PAS can realistically vie for 134 seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, with a simple majority of 113 needed to form government.

PETALING JAYA: Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has warned that PAS could come to power “by default” in the next general election (GE 16) if Chinese voters boycott the polls or deliberately spoil their ballots.

He said PAS was unlikely to secure federal power outright if Chinese voters turned out in full force, but voter apathy — particularly in Chinese-majority or marginal constituencies — could shift the seat arithmetic.

“I say PAS can come into power by default,” Chua told FMT in an exclusive interview. “What does ‘by default’ mean? When the Chinese boycott elections or cast spoiled votes.”


Chua said the issue was already being “debated quietly” among Chinese voters, with some Pakatan Harapan leaders insisting that PAS could take Putrajaya if voters do not back the coalition.



He said many Chinese voters were frustrated with PH and DAP, although DAP was still expected to retain its strongholds.


“You know, Chinese are disillusioned with PH (and) DAP, although they will still continue to (vote) for DAP by default,” he said.

Seat arithmetic

Chua said any discussion on PAS’s route to Putrajaya must start with the numbers.

“We have 222 parliamentary seats. In order to control the central government, either you join the others or you must have 113 — that magic number,” he said.


He said PAS was unlikely to make serious inroads into Sabah and Sarawak — which together account for 56 parliamentary seats — because its “religious and sometimes racial rhetoric” puts off many East Malaysian voters.

“So for PAS to penetrate (those seats), to me, is unlikely,” he said.

Chua said Malaysia still has 32 Chinese-majority parliamentary seats, where DAP is expected to remain strong.

“So 56 plus 32 is 88. In other words, PAS starts off with a handicap of 88 seats they are unable to get votes (for).”


That leaves them 134 seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat that they can realistically vie for, he said. To win Putrajaya outright, PAS would need an 84% success rate.

“To me, unlikely — provided the Chinese come out to vote.”

He said voters should also understand that governments in Malaysia are formed based on the number of parliamentary seats won, not popular vote.


‘Low turnout’ risk

Chua said the real danger lay not in PAS suddenly commanding broad national support, but in the prospect of low Chinese voter turnout tipping the balance in mixed and marginal constituencies to its benefit and that of its allies.

“In a Chinese majority seat or even a marginal seat with a significant number of Chinese, (if) the Chinese boycott, and the Malays come out to vote, and they all vote PAS, they will come into power,” he said.

“So PAS can come into power by default.”

He said Chinese voters should not allow their frustration with PH or DAP to turn into abstention, adding that by rejecting all parties as corrupt or ineffective they could end up inadvertently helping PAS.

The Samsuri effect?

Chua also said Perikatan Nasional’s attempt to project Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, popularly known as Dr Sam, as a more acceptable national figure remains untested among non-Muslim voters.

Samsuri replaced Muhyiddin Yassin as PN chairman earlier this year after the former prime minister relinquished the post.

“Dr Sam is an unknown factor.

“He is an unknown man. For somebody like me in politics for so long, I would say I don’t know him. What about the man on the street?”

His remarks come with Malay-party realignment talks resurfacing ahead of the Johor polls, with FMT reporting that an MP had suggested a collaboration between Umno, PAS and Hamzah Zainudin’s new faction.

Although presently centred on Johor, the proposal suggests a wider collaboration of Malay-based parties that could reshape the political landscape at GE16.

Chua said such manoeuvres make the Chinese turnout at elections even more important, as a more coordinated Malay vote, combined with lower Chinese participation in marginal seats, could see PAS in the driver’s seat even without broad national support.

“This is the warning that I have to give,” he said.

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This time (GE16), it'll be best if Chinese put away their mahjong sets 😂😂😂