ALOR SETAR: Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) has hopes of drawing support from the Chinese community at the general election on Nov 19, says the coalition’s leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said Chinese votes could be the deciding votes to ensure victory for the party. “If the Chinese back any party, chances are favourable for that party to win,” he said.
“In Malaysia, there are constituencies where the Chinese form the majority and there are places where the Malays are in the majority. In places where there is a Malay majority, the Chinese votes may account for the majority of a certain party. Malay votes will be split into four.
“I hope the Chinese will support GTA,” he told reporters during a dialogue session with the Chinese community at Pekan Cina here today.
GTA is a coalition of four Malay-based parties — Pejuang, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) and Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (IMAN) — and a formation of non-governmental organisations under Gagasan Bangsa.
Mahathir, who is also the chairman of Pejuang, said the support of the Chinese towards Pejuang was at “a positive level”.
“Pejuang, as a Malay-based party, is not anti-Chinese but opposes Malays who are not good. We want to form a government that is clean and free of any criminals,” he said.
“I have met many Chinese groups to explain why GTA is a Malay party and they understand.”
He said Malaysia will return as the Tiger of Asia when a formidable government is formed after the general election.