MCA, Gerakan to follow Najib-Umno and postpone party polls?

Samy already leaving, Chua and Koh likely to lose party polls

KUALA LUMPUR - As Umno, Barisan Nasional's biggest component party, has decided to postpone its party election scheduled next year to up to 18 months, the grapevine has it that several component parties might follow suit.

Gerakan is one of them. The party is scheduled to hold its party election next year.

"The CC (Gerakan Central Committee) will meet on Dec 18 to discuss this matter. Before that, the CWC (Central Working Committee) will also discuss this matter," its deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn told Bernama.

He said Gerakan had postponed its party election once in 2007, due to the 12th General Election which was held in early March 2008, and the party election was only carried out after that.

"There are different views on this matter but generally, some leaders felt it is better for the party to postpone its election to minimise infighting. If there is party election next year, everyone will be fighting for positions, right from the division up to the central leadership.

"That's why, we believe, it is better for us to postpone the party election so that everyone can focus on the general election, which will be very crucial for the party's revival," he said.

-- BERNAMA