Urban Tsunami in the 13th General Election: Voting Patterns of Chinese Voters

The 13th general election that was most anticipated ended with frustation for both the BN and PR. Although both fiercely competing alliances were not able to reach their expectations, the election in 2013 recorded some significant developments and changes affecting the politics in Malaysia. Voting patterns among the Chinese people once again invited mixed reactions from Malaysian political leaders. The behavior of Chinese voters that is said to adopt a pendulum swing did not occur in the 13th general election. Results show that the waves that formed changes in Chinese society from the political tsunami of 2008 continued to maintain momentum in the election in 2013. The findings show the Chinese are in the mood of changing the political and administrative system to make it more perfect. Their intention is to realize the two-line system. PR took a chance to capitalize on this phenomenon by injecting and fueling sentiments of Change among Chinese voters. An analysis of the voting patterns of the Chinese in the 13th general election saw a number of unique features that marked the winds of change in the Chinese community. These winds of change are affecting the Chinese community in the country. Accordingly, the Chinese voted based on political alliance, with PR being their choice. The participation and mobilization of the Chinese in the election in 2013 was at a very high rate.