'Chinese Tsunami' factor still largely present in Kajang, as by-election looms

Political analysts have collectively agreed that the 'Chinese Tsunami', a term coined after the major shift of the Chinese community from the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last General Election, will still wash over Kajang during the by-election.

Centre for Strategic Engagement Chief Executive Officer Fui K. Soong, said that she does not believe that the Chinese vote will come back to BN.

"The hope of change is still very strong among the Chinese and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the Opposition Leader who promises change.

"Even in the last elections, the Chinese has expressed their support for change despite BN placing a Chinese candidate in Kajang. For the Chinese, it is not about the race, it is about change," she said.

Political scientist Assoc. Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, also said that the 'Chinese Tsunami' is still there and the by-election could be an acid test for MCA.

"This is because during the 13th General Election (GE), there was a total rejection towards BN and its component parties and the rejection factor still lingers on.

"However, eight months from the 13th GE, we could evaluate the support of the Chinese community during this by-election, especially if MCA is able to form a new strategy.

"With new leadership in MCA, where Vice-President Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun is being put up against the opposition, we might see a change. I don't expect a drastic change but a slight change would be a victory for BN," he said.

Political analyst James Chin said he is 100 per cent confident that the Chinese votes will go to the opposition no matter what BN does to woo them.

"I would not call the shift as 'Chinese Tsunami' but rather it is an 'urban Tsunami'. The Chinese are still very angry with BN.

"As such, they would definitely reject MCA and accept the opposition," he said.

Echoing this sentiment, University of Malaya Centre Of Democracy And Election director Professor Datuk Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman said the chinese voters are still anti-establishment.

The by-election for the Kajang state seat in Selangor will be held on March 23, while March 11 has been set for nominations.

The by-election, the third since the GE, was triggered by the resignation of PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh on January 27.

In the 13th GE, Lee garnered 19,571 votes followed by Lee Ban Seng of the BN with 12,747 votes. Mohamad Ismail of Berjasa obtained 1,014 votes.

The three independent candidates who contested the seat were Mohd Iwan Jefrey Abdul Majib (249 votes), Ong Yan Foo (85 votes) and Mohd Khalid Kassim (83 votes).

Lee won the seat with a comfortable 6,824-vote majority.

Kajang is a mixed constituency with 48 per cent Malay, 41 per cent Chinese and 10 per cent Indian voters.

The constituency has 39,278 voters including 1,197 early voters.