Tsu Koon: Gerakan is weak but not dead or useless or hopeless

"We may be weak but we have not fallen flat on our faces. Our critics are attempting to portray Gerakan as a useless and hopeless party. If that's the case, why have three independent elected representatives chosen to join our party? If that's the case, why have 20,000 people in all the states become our new members, and 5,000 more are in the process of applying to join us?"

KUALA LUMPUR - Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has called on members to remain united and work hard to reconnect with the people.

He said members should prove to critics that their negative view of the party was misplaced.

"We may be weak but we have not fallen flat on our faces. Our critics are attempting to portray Gerakan as a useless and hopeless party.

"If that's the case, why have three independent elected representatives chosen to join our party? If that's the case, why have 20,000 people in all the states become our new members, and 5,000 more are in the process of applying to join us?" he said in his presidential speech at the 39th Gerakan national delegates conference at Menara PGRM here.

Dr Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said Gerakan was also committed to promoting democracy.

He said that party members should practise moderation and inclusiveness, especially when discussing opposing and varying views, with an open mind.

Dr Koh said Gerakan would identify and introduce its candidates for the next general election after the Chinese New Year.

He said that besides launching the party machinery, he had been travelling to all the party-held constituencies over the last four months to make a preliminary evaluation of the political situation on the ground.

The evaluation and selection of the candidates would be based on qualities such as commitment, integrity, capability and "winnability," he said.

The conference was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who represented the prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Dr Koh emphasised that he did not want Gerakan members to lobby or garner support to become general election candidates. "Do your work, do not lobby," he said.

In the last general election, in 2008, Gerakan lost all the 12 state seats it contested, and retained only two of the 10 parliamentary seats where its candidates were fielded.

He also called on the young leaders in the party to understand the history and ideology of the party's struggle as well as the struggles of past leaders.

Dr Koh said that though current leaders appreciated the struggles and services of the veterans, the leadership of today should be adapt to the current situation.

"I am sure they also understand that changing times require new strategies, new approaches and new leadership styles," he said. - Bernama