Pakatan must ‘soften’ DAP’s image to win over Malays, says Rais

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 4 Mar 2019 10:31AM · 25 Comments

Bersatu Negri Sembilan chief Rais Yatim says Pakatan must rein in DAP to counter the Malays' negative perception against the ruling coalition. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 4, 2019.

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) must counter the negative perception that Malay voters have towards the DAP by tampering the “impulsive” actions and statements from the party, said Bersatu Negri Sembilan chief Rais Yatim.

Rais said the level of rejection which most rural Malay voters have towards the DAP is now similar in gravity to the corruption scandals involving Umno leaders.

“The Malays in Semenyih reject the impulsive actions of the DAP. The homework which PH must work on seriously is to soften DAP’s image so that the racial sentiments and the impulsive actions in their statements can be tampered.

“Because of the strong emotions and sentiments of the Malays towards the DAP, even the charges against (former prime minister) Najib (Razak) has not gotten much attention. It’s seen as a non-issue,” Rais was quoted as saying by the Malay-language paper Utusan Malaysia today.

He said allegations that PAS had received RM90 million from Umno prior to last year’s election were also ineffective in Semenyih.

In Saturday’s by-election, BN candidate Zakaria Hanafi won the four-cornered contest with a majority of 1,914 votes to wrest control of the Semenyih state seat, beating PH candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali.

The by-election was called after the death of the previous assemblyman, PH’s Mohd Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, of a heart attack on January 11.

Rais said Pakatan Harapan had clearly failed to communicate to the Malay voters that the ruling pact understood their sentiments and needs.

“PH’s image as the defender of the people has declined in Semenyih, while the coming Rantau by-election does not give enough time for PH to address these issues,” said the former Umno cabinet minister.

“The results of the Semenyih by-election has shaken the confidence and faith of many parties towards PH and Bersatu. What has happened in Semenyih is a lesson for PH.” – March 4, 2019.

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Comments

  • rais , just blamed it on yourself instead of others . you just have umno mentality so how to improve ?

    Posted 5 years ago by Astann astann · Reply

    • You cannot deny that many rural folks value their 'rights' more than a clean govt. Their perception matters.

      Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

    • Chean, as what you said, should we tackle the wrong perception or suppress the innocent party DAP? Please have a good sense.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • It is not DAP per se. From my observation, 2 events and PH's handling of them caused Semenyih and Cameron - Temple Riot and UN Anti-Discrimination Declaration.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

  • Bullshit!! and wrong analysis. This Rais is using the excuses for different agenda. Semenyih lost was due to ineffectiveness of PH in Governance and simply handing over to UmnoPAd on a silvet plate. It is know fact that the PH candidates is a dud and completely loss in why he is standing for elections. So I wud like to tell Rais ... Good try but fool no body. The more you talk is only hurting PH and again the turn out of voters in Rantau to support PH will shock you.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • couldn't take criticism?

      Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

    • What critism?? he is playing racial game. As I have already mentioned in my other pieces it is PH to loose in Rantau. The low turn will be an indicator of dissapointment in PH as a whole where their governance are sub standard. Anyway cud sense that you are applying to be his PA. Good luck but you better be well stuffed.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Rais is tackiling the wrong target.

    Has DAP been prominent in the public? No. We heard nothing much from DAP since May 9. It is all the faults of PAS in using DAP as a bogeyman. The voters are just as gullible to lies as before.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • DAP doesn't try to be prominent. But PAS/UMNO's campaigning is effective in painting that picture. It works. There is something PH has to deal with.

      Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

    • Then Rais should think b4 he utter any more nonscense that cud be misleading. He is now projecting and coyly alluding of DAP prominence. Dangerous subtle pitics and if you are in sync with his thoughts , you are no better but pure hypocrisy.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Shoot the liars! Not DAP!

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • This is not how you deal with negative public opinion.

      Posted 5 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

    • Chean, I am sorry to say you are not a solver of a problem. You simply allow the problem to grow from bad to worse.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • You cannot deny Tanahair ku in his rights of expression where you have wholeheartedly embraced into Rais stupid comments. So do not be a smart Aleck!!

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • When the crook Najib's@Bossku@Pencuriku trials starts in court the clowns who bought his Bossku T-shirt and those who took selfies with this thief will hang down their heads in shame.Soon the 'Terima Kasih Kepada PAS' crooks will be arrested and charged including the staunch Hadi supporter and financer who has been 'Carefully' chosen by the stupid PH govt to be Chairman of KTMB.Disgusting!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Soma Govin · Reply

  • Rais is a recycled and rejected politician. Typical racist statement n blaming others. Please retire gracefully la.

    Posted 5 years ago by ST Toh · Reply

    • Rais must not blame DAP. In GE 509 , DAP achieved good result in all parliamentary seat. Bersatu , result is not good at all. And those are Malay majority. Why Rais ?

      Posted 5 years ago by Tam Yan Cheng · Reply

  • Somehow Nazri racial statement made Semenyih people to turn to BN, not bcoz of Najib/Bossku campaign. BN/Umno/PAS should thank Nazri for this. If Pakatan/Tun M do not accept this sentiment, or ignore it, theyll lose in GE15.

    Posted 5 years ago by Leng Kapri As Saribasi · Reply

  • DAP always ends up being used as the fall guy. What on earth has DAP done to the Malays? Can someone please give evidence as to how DAP has worked against the Malays? It comes down to racial politics played by UMNO and PAS. They make the rural Malays fear the non-Malays/Muslims. But it hasnt been the minorities who have been destroying the country. Its is Malay politicians that have been doing it. ANd the facts show that.

    Posted 5 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply

    • For decades, the Malaysia are not solving their own problems. When TDM was awakened to the disaster caused by 1mdb scandal , we were hoping to see the hopes of change. Unfortunately things remain the same.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • I would like to ask Rais ---- You were around during the rape case of the Malay minor in Malacca and not even a squeak from you. Ain't you glad that LGE a non Malay but a DAP party members took up the challenge to protect and fought outright for the rights of the young Malay girl and goes to prison as a victim. None of the Malays including you and the MPs have the balls to voice it out. Ain't you glad that that "implusive actions" was a heaven sent to restore the poor Malay pride but now you are twisting and manipulating by refering the actions and also implying as a repulsive ""implusive actions and statements from the party"" -- DAP ( eventho' they have not acted so )hurts the Malay sentiments and agenda. What the freaking f$#% statement are you oozing. Are you on Ketum ????

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • cont ::: The rakyat has been watching all your actions and statement and now it is conclusively shown that you are a RACIST !!!!! period.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Bersatu and the Malay right-wing within Harapan are attempting to use their loss in Semenyih to further their Malay-first narrative.

    Careful analysis of the seat, however, reveals firstly that this has always been a marginal BN seat, but which fell into Harapan hands in GE14 due to the vote splitting factor of PAS. Similarly, BN narrowly managed to scrape through in 2013 due to the vote splitting factor of PSM, which then worked in BN's favour.

    Examining the 2008 GE result shows that Semenyih has merely reverted to where it has always been in a two-party contest, with BN edging out PKR then by the same percentage of the voting electorate.

    The voting patterns of the Malays have not changed. If anything, it is the lower turnout of non-Malays in both Semenyih and CH that is self-evident. And that is primarily due to PH breaking its electoral promises of reform that they promised not just the non-Malays, but the country as a whole.

    ICERD and UEC recognition were promises made by PH, but not just conveniently discarded but actively campaigned against by some of PH's own cabinet Ministers. Those were not just promises reneged upon, but a backstab of the very people who put PH in power.

    Posted 5 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

    • PH has a good reason you win Semenyih during GE14, but now has a bad reason to lose the by-election. The bad reason is being not knowing how to tackle toxic politics, not that BN is now better than PH.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Rais is either senile or stupid....to use DAP as the excuse. Or he is using this as an excuse to blame DAP. Ignore this fellow. The 2 or 3 battles may be lost but PH can win the war in 2023 with 2/3 years of good governance as the STEALING has reduced a lot.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply