Malaysian PM urges Gerakan to boost efforts in wooing voters

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on Gerakan, a component party in ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), to step up its efforts in wooing voters, while its party president described the next general election as a “seminal moment” for the beleaguered party.

“We must be close to the people, always give effective service and ensure that our organisation has a strong and organised machinery to carry out our activities,” said Mr Najib, who is also BN chairman, in a pre-recorded video message broadcast at Gerakan Party’s 45th national delegates conference yesterday.

Mr Najib was in Thailand attending a regional summit and was represented by BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

The BN coalition is made up of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and Gerakan.

Party president Mah Siew Keong yesterday called for greater unity among Gerakan members.

“We won’t make it without unity, sacrifices has to be made. Even if you think you are the better person, I appeal to you, for the sake of the party. We must help the person who has been appointed as candidate,” the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said.

Gerakan’s popularity has dropped sharply in recent years. In the 2008 general election, it lost control of the Penang state government, which it had governed for almost 40 years, to the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

The party won only one parliamentary and three state seats in the 2013 poll, although Mr Mah managed to wrest the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat from the DAP in a by-election in 2014.

“They said the party is dying, but they are wrong.

“Last year, 27 members exited the party but we gained 4,057 new members,” said Mr Mah, adding that most of the new recruits were from the younger generation.

Mr Najib said he was confident that Gerakan could improve its performance in the coming 14th general election and advised members to have the courage of their convictions.

“Through consensus and close cooperation and sincerity, I believe BN will continue to succeed in leading Malaysia towards greater success that would make the people proud,” said Mr Najib, adding that it was important for the ruling coalition’s component parties to refute the allegations made by the opposition.

Mr Mah said that for Gerakan to improve its performance at the ballot box, it would need “a good and effective communication strategy”.

“The 14th General Election will be Gerakan’s seminal moment. We cannot afford the repeat of the huge losses of the 12th and 13th General Election,” he added.

Gerakan will compete in 45 parliamentary and state seats in the next general election due in 2018.

In recent weeks, Gerakan has voiced objection to a proposed redelineation exercise by the Election Commission, saying that it will affect the party’s performance in the upcoming poll.

Party members say the new boundaries would make Malay-majority constituencies more Malay and Chinese-majority areas more Chinese. That, they say, would not only help Umno, but also the opposition DAP, which enjoys the support of the majority of ethnic Chinese voters.

In an oblique reference to the issue yesterday, opposition lawmaker Tony Pua questioned the absence of both Mr Najib and his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, from the Gerakan conference.

“For the first time in history, Umno president and his deputy snubbed Gerakan’s annual assembly meeting,” said Mr Pua in a tweet. AGENCIES