DAP and PKR captured 14 seats to deny the ruling coalition its two-thirds majority for the second time since 2008.
Also, for the first time since 1959, there was not a single Chinese representative from MCA or Gerakan in the legislature and, by extension, in the Umno-dominated state executive council.
However, the BN managed to be returned to power with 22 seats.
In the coming 14th general election (GE14), the MCA and Gerakan hope to break the duck and get some of their candidates back into the state assembly.
State MCA chief Lim Chin Fui said grassroots members and potential candidates have been serving the people, especially on local government and land matters, even though voters rejected the party in 2013.
“The opposition made empty promises in the last election and has not been able to deliver,” said Lim who is likely to be fielded again in the Chuah state seat.
He expressed confidence that Chinese support had returned to the BN and some of the 10 MCA candidates would be elected in constituencies held by DAP and PKR.
State MCA liaison committee member Tan Foong Luen said the party has nothing lose and everything to gain in GE14 since it now has no official representative in the state government.
In its heydays, at least two MCA assemblymen were appointed to the state executive council.
The 70-year-old Tan, who is a lawyer and a former national hockey team goalkeeper, said the Chinese, who mainly lived in urban localities, were influenced by national issues.
“Our men may have been hardworking to serve the locals but come election time, voters cast their ballots based on national issues,” he told FMT.
Tan said the opposition has successfully conveyed their messages through the alternative media and internet, like Whatsapp.
MCA candidates will be fielded in Chennah, Bahau, Lobak, Temiang, Nilai, Rahang, Mambau, Chuah, Lukut, and Repah.
State Gerakan chief David Choong Vee Hing said his party expected to win at least one of the two seats allocated.
Gerakan was previously given Bukit Kepayang and Senawang, now known as Seremban Jaya, but lost both seats to the DAP.
Choong, who may recontest in Seremban Jaya, believes the urban voters will not allow themselves to be hoodwinked again to vote for DAP and PKR only to be left without any service by the assemblymen after the polls.
“It is the MCA and Gerakan that have diligently served the people in seats they lost, even after the disastrous outcome in 2008,” he said.
Choong said Gerakan could effectively represent the people if it won both seats.
“In 2004, one of our representatives was made an executive councillor after we won both seats allocated to us,” he said.
State DAP chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook was coy about the DAP’s chances of defending all the 11 seats it won in 2013.
“We will work hard to retain the seats but it is all now left in the hands of the voters,” said Loke who was opposition leader in the legislative assembly.
Loke, who is expected to defend his Chennah seat, said the opposition would campaign on the message of replacing the BN government.
In the last election, Umno won 21, MIC 1 and PKR 3.
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