CHINESE voters in Padang Rengas, Perak, are cringing with embarrassment at their MP’s rude remarks about Hong Kong-based business tycoon Robert Kuok.

Regardless of political affiliation, villagers shook their heads and lowered their gaze when asked about what they thought of the spat between their MP, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, and MCA over the remarks.

Residents in two out of the four Chinese villages in the rural constituency were reluctant to comment at first. However, their anger and dissatisfaction became fairly obvious once they opened up.

Nazri, a five-term lawmaker, had called Kuok a “pondan” (effeminate) and dared the 94-year-old to contest in the coming polls over allegations the latter was funding DAP to topple the Barisan Nasional government. 

Kuok has denied the allegations. 

Padang Rengas MCA deputy chief Fon Kwi Lan said Nazri was adding fuel to the fire in his stubborn refusal to apologise.

Fon, who is also Kampung Baru Limau Katil village chief, said residents were already unhappy with the minister as he rarely visited them.

“Over the past five years, he only came once – for a Chinese New Year function last year that was organised by the (Padang Rengas) Aunties Club,” said Fon.

He also said that despite several appeals to Nazri to repair the village’s basketball court’s wiring, nothing had been done.

“We went to see him a few times at his residence. We even waited for him until late at night. The wiring has been like this for eight years,” said Fon.

He also refuted Nazri’s allegation that local MCA leaders had campaigned against him in the 2013 elections. 

Nazri had said that they had done this because they held a grudge against him for backing MCA president Liow Tiong Lai over former party president Chua Soi Lek in a party poll.

“We canvassed for him (Nazri) in 2013 but the mood, especially among young voters, was to change the government. What could we do?” 

Fon also criticised Nazri for favouring the Padang Rengas Aunties Club, giving them generous allocations to go on free trips, while neglecting to attend to other villagers and their needs. 

“The Aunties Club is a social club. It is not a political body. It is also a mixed group of women, including opposition supporters. 

“When elections come around, will they vote for him? Will they help him put up banners and canvass for votes?” Fon said.

About a dozen villagers at Kampung Baru Padang Rengas also said that Nazri never visited their village.

“Does he really care about us? Even (Bersatu chairman Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) and (PKR de facto leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) stopped by the village,” said a villager, who wanted to remain anonymous.

A DAP member from Kampung Baru Padang Rengas, who only wanted to be known as Wong, said he felt it was inappropriate for a minister to be so crude. 

“I don’t want to say much ... We’ve become the joke of the country,” he told The Malaysian Insight today.

Nazri defended Padang Rengas from PKR with a slim majority of 2,230 votes in 2013 and 1,749 votes in 2008.

With nearly 30,000 registered voters of mostly smallholders and rubber tappers, the make-up of the rural seat in northern Perak is 75% Malay, Chinese (15%) and Indian (10%). – March 4, 2018.