Making the call in an address to the nation on TV3, he repeated what he had earlier told voters in Penang, the country's only Chinese-majority state.

'You have to decide if you want a louder voice in Parliament or representation in the Cabinet where they can be more effective in representing all communities,' the BN chairman told Penangites on Thursday.

If the Chinese did not have representation in the Cabinet, he pointed out, their requests would not be heard.

The call for Chinese votes is especially vital to the coalition, given that the community forms 25 per cent of the 27 million strong population.

Malays make up 60 per cent, and Indians, 8 per cent.

The race for Chinese votes is even more crucial in Penang - Datuk Seri Abdullah's home state - where Chinese-based opposition party Democratic Action Party (DAP) has been launching an all-out push to win the votes of the community.

Amid recent racial and religious tensions, the Chinese have also increasingly become more unhappy with what they see as marginalisation by the Malay-dominated government, as well as other issues such as rising costs of living.

On Thursday, Datuk Seri Abdullah sought to put such fears to rest, stressing that the BN wanted the Chinese community to be part of the government.

'We do not want to have a government that does not have representation of all ethnic groups in the Cabinet,' he said.

'We want to be the best and I want to do the best for the rakyat (citizens).'

He also reminded the Chinese community in Penang that if they gave the DAP their votes, they would end up not having any representation in the government.

Look at what happened in 1990, he reminded Penangites of the aftermath of that general election, which saw the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) - the Chinese partner in BN - lose in every state seat it contested.

'When the MCA lost its voice, the people felt it. I hope they will think very carefully. This is important in the interest of all races,' said Datuk Seri Abdullah.

Yesterday, during an interview on Radio Television Malaysia in Penang, the PM also reiterated the BN government's pledge to bring development to the people, stressing that plans had already been drawn up for implementation.

'If everyone gives their support to the BN, the development programmes would be continued. The opposition, on the contrary, are only making (empty) promises,' he said.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, BERNAMA