Kuala Lampur, July 5 -- Malaysian Chinese voters have often been portrayed as mysterious, unpredictable or excessively demanding in the way they exercise their democratic rights. Such portrayals are inaccurate and, more importantly, politically lazy.

The truth is considerably simpler. Malaysian Chinese voters are among the easiest constituencies to understand in any election. They vote for delivery, competence and institutional credibility. They are generally less interested in grandstanding speeches, ideological theatrics or endless political quarrels that consume the attention of politicians but produce little improvement in daily life.

In short, deliver rather than dabble in rhetoric.

This pattern is hardly new. Since the political ...