The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) has called for reinforcements from their peninsular Malaysia counterparts to help in its campaign, particularly against the DAP.
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek arrived today while MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha has been here for several days. Former MCA president Ong Tee Keat will be arriving tomorrow.
Met at his first function for the campaign, Chua said he was personally invited to join the campaign by SUPP president Dr George Chan.
"We don't have any influence here because we don't have any branches, but in the BN spirit and to show our support for the prime minister, we should all be here to help," said Chua.
Chua said that he would be assisting SUPP based on his extensive experience in battling the opposition back in the Peninsula.
"They (SUPP) have been overwhelmed now that DAP and PKR has thrown all their first, second and third tier leaders here. They (SUPP) are not used to this kind of aggression," said Chua.
After Kuching, Chua will be heading to Chan's stronghold of Miri, which has been drawing record crowds at opposition rallies.
Chua was speaking to reporters after giving a speech at the Tian Hou Gong temple in Bintawa, Kuching in support of BN's Pending candidate Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Pakatan losing support back home
In his speech, Chua tried to assure his audience of about 400 people that Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud - the main target of the opposition campaign - would be stepping down.
"The prime minister had already announced that he would step down after the elections. He won't simply make announcements. We should thank (Taib) for his contributions. Let's give him a hand," said Chua, as the crowd clapped on cue.
"I personally asked the premier about this, to which he replied 'I am the prime minister and he (Taib) has agreed'. He has spoken to the premier and you can't take back your word on the premier."
Chua also claimed that in the Peninsula, Pakatan is losing support, pointing out that over the past year, the opposition coalition had lost five out of six by-elections.
"The tide is changing. Pakatan is no longer popular. This is because the public has been fooled over the past three years. Over the six by-elections, BN won handsomely in five seats but lost Sibu (in Sarawak).
"This is because you have yet understand how the DAP is fooling you. Once you understand, you will definitely reject the DAP," he said.
Cannibilising Chinese seats
Meanwhile, Chua also claimed that DAP's major role in the Peninsula was to act as a crutch for PAS, citing the case of how the Islamic party took helm of Perak despite DAP having the most amount of seats.
"DAP had 18 seats while PKR and PAS only had 13 seats combined. Who is the boss? DAP right? But why did they not dare to take the menteri besar's post?
"If it was me, since I have 18 seats, I would tell PKR and PAS that lim pek is the boss," said Chua.
In the case of Sarawak, Chua argued that since DAP is only out to contest 15 seats, its rally cry for "change" was untenable because even if the party won all 15 contests, it would not make a substantial difference or deny two-thirds in the 71 seat state assembly.
He said that in effect, DAP was cannabilising Chinese majority seats and pitting the Chinese against each other instead of encouraging unity for the community.
"(In the Peninsula,) DAP dare not fight against Umno, only against MCA and other Chinese parties. They are pitting the Chinese against themselves," he said.
Rally participants were treated to a buffet dinner after Sim's speech and slideshow presentation.
