A lesson from Gerakan

Koh - is Gerakan going to the dogs as Keng Yaik warns

Lim Sue Goan

October 10 is an auspicious day. Many couples have chosen that day to tie the knot and Taiwan will also be celebrating its National Day. However, political parties in Malaysia just like to choose that day to hold their extraordinary general meetings.

The MCA held its extraordinary general meeting on 10 October last year. The vote of no confidence against the then party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat got through by 14 votes while his suspended deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, failed to be reinstated as deputy president. However, the party crisis was not resolved but grew worse instead. What would happen to the Penang Gerakan extraordinary general meeting this year?

History keeps repeating itself but politicians never learn from history. It seems like Gerakan is repeating the mistake previously made by the MCA.

The outbreak of the party crisis was because Ong had insisted to take actions against Chua for the sex DVD scandal. Chua supporters then collected signatures from the central delegates to hold an extraordinary general meeting. Both Ong and Chua had been voted out but they did not observe the resolutions and destroyed the party's integrity.

Very few people had openly opposed to Ong at that time. Even when the Disciplinary Board proposed actions to be taken against Chua, most of the Central Committee members just "blindly" supported and defended Ong instead of trying to put things back into order.

Today, we can almost see the same thing happening to Gerakan. Party leaders supporting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon have lashed out at Lim Keng Yaik, calling him "old and senile". However, they did not see the party's problems and listen to the people's views on Gerakan.

It is very easy to criticise leaders who have stepped down and lost power while pleasing those in power. Unfortunately, it may cause the leaders unable to see their mistakes and think that there is nothing wrong with their leadership as the grassroots are still supporting them. If everyone indulges themselves in the sensation of "feeling good" without reminding each other that the crisis is approaching, the crisis will eventually become a reality.

Among those who have voiced their views, I appreciate Pemanis State Assemblyman Lau Chin Hoon. At least he has kept a clear head, pointed out weaknesses of the party and suggested a reform plan for the party. If everyone is emotional and think that there is a motive behind the former party president, the problems will never be solved but worsened.

It is believed that Lim Keng Yaik is having a follow-up plan to save the party. However, as he is no longer in the office, the power of party veterans and the Life Member Council might not be enough to turn the tide.

In addition, the problems of Gerakan do not merely come from the president, but also state party chairmen. Some of them are hibernating while some lack charisma. Gerakan has only two parliamentary seats left after the previous general election. They should not merely blame the political tsunami.

Such a not aggressive leadership culture cannot be changed overnight unless if there is a stirring reform. Therefore, the problems of Gerakan may be more serious than the MCA's.

Even though if Gerakan leaders are able to persuade the grassroots to cancel the extraordinary general meeting, or they fail to pass the no-confidence motion against state party chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, the discontentment of the grassroots is already a fact. Suppression is not the solution and it is not democratic either.

The crisis of Gerakan has brought a lesson to both the ruling and alternative coalitions that a small issue must be resolved quickly before it grow worse.
- Sin Chew Daily