Ethnic politics in Kuala Lumpur: A post – 2013 GE perception study of voters residing in People’s Housing Schemes

Ethnicity is an important factor influencing the political process and socialization trend in Malaysia. With Malaysian multiethnic demographic and economic structures so established party politics and voting patterns have become virtually ethnicised . Voting patterns in the 2013General Election (GE) was a continuation of that of the 2008 GE whereby Malay voters supported the BN while Chinese and some Indian voters favored the opposition Pakatan Rakyat comprising the PKR, DAP and PAS. This paper analyzes the post -2013 GE political perception of Malay, Chinese and Indians voters who were residents of People Housing Schemes (PPR) in Kuala Lumpur. It is based on primary data gathered from 1069 respondents of 15 PPR schemes located in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, statistical tests of the data and literature review. Findings revealed that all three ethnics cast their votes for candidates who were deemed honest, trustworthy and affectionate, and that they supported a political party which they perceived could spur development and eradicate poverty. BN voters voted BN because the party was perceived to have vast experience, trustworthy and because of the long service of past BN leaders. Those who voted for the Pakatan Rakyat parties did so because the parties were perceived as capable of offering fresh, attractive and just governance. Predominantly Chinese respondents were more critical of national economic, social and political issues. Majority of low-income Malay and Indian respondents supported the BN in contrast to Chinese respondents who ardently supported the Pakatan Rakyat parties in the GE 2013.