SUNGAI PETANI, March 5 (Bernama) -- Chinese voters inclined to support DAP will have to rely on Malay political clout to voice out their interests in parliament, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said today.

"If they choose to support Barisan Nasional (BN), it means they want to share power.

"All along, only MCA and Gerakan have fought for the Chinese, not DAP," he said when commenting when commenting on a report by MCA strategist Datuk Wong Mook Leong who said Chinese voters have the option on whether they wanted a big voice in parliament and government or a strong voice only in parliament.

Wong had said it was a step backward for the Chinese community when the DAP won 24 seats and MCA 18 in the 1986 general election and again the DAP was ahead of MCA by two seats in the 1990 general election.

Zainuddin said that if MCA and Gerakan had fewer seats in parliament, the Chinese had to depend on the Malay political clout to fight for their interests until the next general election.

"Hence, Chinese voters have no choice, but to continue supporting BN, failing which their interests will take a beating," added Zainuddin, who is BN candidate for the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat.