Zuhdi said speaking from experience, Chinese voters generally switched to other parties after two terms.

“The 2008 and 2013 General Elections saw them supporting Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Now they will return to BN,” he told FMT today as he commented on the factors that led to BN’s victories in the twin by-elections.

“That’s the voting patterns of the Chinese throughout Malaysian electoral history.”

In Kuala Kangsar, Mastura Mohd Yazid, the widow of the incumbent, the late Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, defeated three other candidates with a greater majority of 6,969 votes.

Budiman Mohd Zohdi, the assemblyman for Sungai Panjang, won the Sungai Besar seat previously held by the late Noriah Kasnon with a much more comfortable majority of 9,191 votes.

Mohd Zuhdi advised the PAS Supporters Congress to explain the allegations of DAP, MCA and Gerakan against the Islamist party in their bid to win back Chinese support.

“Chinese voters left PAS because PAS has still failed to explain the allegations made by those parties,” he said.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub however stressed it was too soon to say they had lost Chinese support despite their performance in the recent by-elections because his party was not yet a year old since its establishment.

“To me, even though BN may have increased its Chinese voter percentage, that phenomenon usually happens in any by-election.

“The Chinese can demand, and occasionally show a little rebellion, but that does not generally happen in the General Election,” Salahuddin said.