The MCA is confident that the new spirit brought by the new leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will bring the wind of change to Bukit Gantang, especially to the Chinese community there which want a stable government.
Its vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this new spirit was extolled by Deputy Prime Minister and new Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, new party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the new leaders of other BN components.
"The commitment and close cooperation showed by the BN component parties, which seriously want to reform and listen more to the problems of the people after their dismal showing in the last general election, will help draw support from voters this time," he said after launching a programme to promote healthy living at SJK (C) Khea Hwa in Matang, here, Sunday.
Liow, who is also Health Minister, said BN was correcting mistakes and weaknesses after the last elections, and was now more committed to serving the people well.
The BN government, he said, would fulfill its reform promises by taking proactive measures for the benefit of the people and was not merely chanting party slogans.
"We will prove that reforms will take place...will undertake measures for the good of the local community. So, I am urging the people, especially the Chinese voters (in Bukit Gantang), to give their full support to the BN candidate whom we have introduced to the Chinese community and associations.
"The local Chinese community just want a stable government to address the effects of the worsening economic situation. They want to see less politicking and more work done to develop the economy and to improve the living standard of the people in the constituency," he said.
Liow said the BN components' top leaders would take a people-friendly approach and explain to them the issues and problems raised by the opposition through the websites and blogs.
He said the BN government was an experienced and capable government in helping the people, while the BN candidate for the by-election, Ismail Saffian, was the best candidate to bring the development agenda to the local community.
The Bukit Gantang by-election will see a three-cornered contest involving BN's Ismail, 49, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, from PAS, and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.
It is held following the death of PAS parliamentarian Roslan Shaharum on Feb 9.
- Bernama -