GEORGE TOWN, SEPT 12- The contest for the state Gerakan chairman post this Sunday signified a demand for a sweeping change to revive its original multi-racial formula, which had fallen by wayside, said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.
Khoo said the contest between Tanjung division chairman Teng Chang Yeow and state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh was crucial to define the party’s survival and future direction.
“It is a test on members’ resolve to change and return the party to its original struggle and objectives.
“Gerakan is now at the crossroads and needed urgent reforms to re-emerge from scratch by going back to the party basics when it was formed in 1968.
“The contest is all about the party survival. It’s either do or die,” Khoo told FMT today.
He said Gerakan was in need of a new, young, enthusiastic and smarter leadership that could offer new ideas and strategies to the public, not just members.
He added that Gerakan should realise that it could never be a major political player again by being over dependable on Barisan Nasional and Umno.
Khoo said Gerakan must reform to regain the public support and trust on its own not by living under the patronage of BN and Umno.
“Gerakan grassroots leaders and members must dare to change if they were serious in revitalising the party and becoming a formidable political force on its own right,” he said.
He added that the change must start in Penang because the state had been fundamental to the party’s foundation.
“If they failed, the party will meet its natural demise after the next general election,” said Khoo.
Some 399 delegates will cast their ballots in the state elections on Sunday.
The seat fell vacant after outgoing state Gerakan chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan decided not to seek re-election.
Tough fight for Baljit
Khoo said Baljit could face difficulties in securing votes among the largely ethnic Chinese delegates.
He said Baljit’s candidature would also present the ideal challenge to Gerakan members whether to revive the party’s original non-communal politics by choosing a leader on merit regardless of his ethnic background.
He recalled that the party on its birth was led by Syed Hussein Alatas and had an ethnic trade unionist V David as a top leader.
He said the contest was a real chance for Gerakan to start working to offer Penangites an effective, competent, viable and dynamic alternative to the ruling party, the DAP.
Given that Gerakan would lead the state BN, he said the party’s revival as a non-communal political force was imperative for growth of the state’s two-tier political landscape.
He rubbished the suggestion made by Pakatan Rakyat, that Gerakan was a spent force following successive electoral defeats.
Khoo said if the delegates failed to go for change now to a new leadership without political baggage, the party could never recover from its slump.
He said delegates had two choices now as to either maintain status quo and continuity by choosing an old tried guard, who had flopped miserably as BN state chairman in the recent general election.
“Or, they can choose a new man at the helm to transform the party as an effective state opposition with new ideas and strategies reviving the old Gerakan spirit,” he added.
Khoo said a new political leadership was vital to rid the party of factionalism and build unity.
He said if the delegates retained an old guard, factionalism would continue to dampen the party spirit.
“Gerakan can play a pivotal opposition role in Penang with the right leadership and strategies.
“Its survival now depends on the decision of the delegates,” said Khoo.
Khoo felt that Teng, being the party secretary-general, should focus on the national level and leave the state administration to local leaders.
By political convention, he said Teng should step aside from state politics especially when he had led BN to defeat in last general election.
Moreover, he pointed out that Teng had quit as state BN chairman immediately taking responsibility for the defeat.
“He should go for national politics and allow new younger leadership to take over in Penang,” said Khoo.
