Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and his chinese converted Muslim wife
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin says Umno chief and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has never given up on winning the support of Chinese voters even when faced with voices of dissatisfaction from within the party.
He said although there were requests at Umno supreme council meetings and other party meetings that he give up the fight for the support of the Chinese, Najib had kept insisting he must win the backing of that community.
Umno may appear to have no hope of gaining the support of Chinese voters based on current statistics, but Najib has never given up hope, Raja Long Chik, who is also Federal Territory Umno deputy chief, revealed to Nanyang Siang Pau.
Asked how Barisan Nasional is going to win the support of Chinese voters in the next general election, Raja Long Chik said some Chinese businessmen feel the government lacks fairness in implementing certain policies. This needs to be improved, he said.
“The Malays feel they don’t have many opportunities in the private sector. Chinese entrepreneurs should understand this, and open up some specific business sectors. They should not give people the impression that they are overly monopolistic. Instead, everyone should work together.”
He said he has always advised Malay businessmen not to resort to short cuts or become “Ali Babas”.
They must be real businessmen, and learn the ropes from Chinese businessmen by forming partnerships with them, he said.
Raja Nong Chik said many Malay businessmen feel Chinese entrepreneurs become rich because they know how to cheat, adding: “This is a wrong perception.”
“My Chinese business partner must be a multi-millionaire by now. I discovered he is truthful and honest, and his philosophy of living is not unlike a Muslim – (his becoming rich) has nothing to do with cheating,” he said, adding that many Chinese entrepreneurs become rich because they are truthful and trustworthy.
There may be one or two who became rich through deception, he said, pointing out that this also happens among the Malays.
“This (rich Chinese obtaining their wealth by cheating) is a wrong perception, resulting in misunderstanding … I hope the ‘1Malaysia’ concept can truly be implemented," he said.
Describing his family as ‘1Malaysia”, he said because of his Chinese wife, Datin Nafesah, he had the opportunity to understand Chinese culture, and was able to look at things and problems from different angles.
On the upcoming elections, Raja Long Chik , said: “I am a fighter, I like competition, I have won some and lost some as I rose through the ranks in the party. I am not afraid to challenge MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is seen as Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s rising star, in Lembah Pantai.”
