NO political party representing the non-Malays with dignity and self-respect would join the exclusive political coalition of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Yet Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai seriously thinks that the party within the fold of PN can make a political comeback especially in Penang.
Gerakan held Penang from 1969 to 2008 before bowing out to the DAP in the March 2008 general election.
From this time onwards, the party has been on the downhill road politically. After its disastrous performance in 2018, Gerakan bade farewell to BN to join the PN coalition of Bersatu and PAS.
Although it won a few seats in the by-elections in Melaka and Johore subsequently, the party didn’t win any parliamentary seats in the recently concluded 15th General Election (GE15).
Gerakan – a party that has no promising future – seems to think big in the anticipation of the next state elections.
Lau thinks with the right mix of strategy and good luck, Gerakan can make a difference in Penang by taking on the DAP. The latter was responsible for ousting Gerakan’s dominance in Penang about 15 years ago.
Given the racially and religiously polarised atmosphere, I really wonder whether Lau is hallucinating or not.
PAS a stumbling block in PN
The non-Malay population as evidenced in the last parliamentary elections has clearly moved to the side of Pakatan Harapan (PH) or to those political parties in the unity government.
The non-Malays have been completely alienated from the PN especially its religious extremist party PAS.
Given this, I wonder how Gerakan could endear itself to the non-Malay voters especially in Penang.
Nostalgia on the part of Lau to return to the good old days might not be sufficient reason for the party to re-live its past glory.
Gerakan was the main cause of its own political demise in Penang. Its close parasitic symbiosis with Umno in Barisan Nasional (BN) crippled the party in terms of its own independence in providing an effective administration to Penangites at large.
Voters in Penang might remember Gerakan for the wrong reasons, especially those reasons that contributed to the rejection of the party.
DAP is not a perfect party, but it stands for the best interests of the people in Penang. I really wonder how Gerakan can make a difference to the Penangites this time around.
Associating with Bersatu and PAS seems to be last straw for Gerakan before its final disappearance from the arena of Malaysian politics.
Similar fate awaits MCA and the MIC – parties still undecided to be with PN or BN. – Jan 23, 2033
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Pic credits: Gerakan Facebook
