Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Chinese community to stop and avoid falling victims to political manipulation of the opposition and to give their support back to Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election (GE14).

He said this was because the Chinese community had been influenced to hate and to change the ruling government.

"I call on MCA Wanita to tell the Chinese community to stop and avoid being manipulated by the opposition. The opposition had their opportunities to form the government in several states, but the situation in those states are not exactly better than before.

"Don't let yourselves to be manipulated by the opposition again, come back to BN, the party that serves all," he said this at the Malaysian Chinese Women Excellence Awards 2017 dinner in Seri Kembangan, near here, lastnight.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the BN government had various programmes to ensure the wellbeing of people in the country, and he would help ensuring the national agenda for the Chinese community would continue to be given priority by the government without marginalising other races.

In citizenship issue, for example, he said he had personally approved the applications made by those who were qualified.

"So far, the applications from MCA, Gerakan and our other component parties had also been approved because it is their right and this right cannot be denied.

"That is why I want our friends from all races to be able see that the transformation made by the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had indeed done good for the people in the country," he said.

In another development, Ahmad Zahid also recognised the contributions of women in various sectors of development in the country.

As such, he said the women should be given bigger opportunities and trust to become leaders and plicy makers.

Ahmad Zahid said he was confident that if women were to be given the opportunities, they would be able to prove their capability.

Malaysian Chef-de-Mission to the 2017 SEA Games Datuk Marina Chin, for example, has successfully led the national contingent towards excellence at the biggest ongoing sports meet in Southeast Asia, he said, adding that the government would definitely give a special award and recognition to Chin during the closing ceremony of the games on Aug 30.

As of tonight, the national contingent has bagged 83 gold, 58 silver and 53 bronze medals.

-- BERNAMA