Urban and middle-class voters such as those in Penang – a predominantly Chinese state with strong opposition sentiment – had always voted to keep the state legislature under the National Front in order to ensure continued funding, while sending opposition candidates to parliament to “pester” the National Front there. This calculation has been abandoned, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s administration and impatience for change.
城市和中产阶级的选民（就像在Penang的那些以华人为主，具有强烈的反对派情绪的选民）总是让州议会在民主阵线面前保持低姿态以确保继续得到财政资金，同时又派遣反对派的候选人去联邦议会“纠缠”执政联盟。这种策略已经被摒弃，从而反映出反对派对总理Abdullah Badawi政府的不满和急于求变的心态。