Hsu Dar Ren quits Gerakan, sickened by Umno's racist hegemony

Senior politician Hsu Dar Ren has quit Gerakan, citing Umno’s “hegemonic race politics” as the reason for his decision to leave. His departure will be a major blow not just for Gerakan but also the ruling BN coalition.

Although, Hsu does not hold any state or parliamentary seat, he is a well-respected figure amongst the young professionals and well-liked by the Chinese community.

“Despite the many decades of trying to work from within, Gerakan is now further and further away from realising its ideals," Hsu said in a statement.

“Three years after the 308 general election, I sense that apart from rhetoric, there is little change in policies gearing towards uniting the people and providing a fairer and more equal footing for all. I feel that it is now futile for me to try to fight within the system anymore,” he said.

Impossible for Gerakan

Hsu said it was impossible for Gerakan to achieve any headway given Umno's domineering ways. He has resigned from all his positions in Gerakan, including that of central committee member, Federal Territory state liaison committee member, division chairman, branch chairman and ordinary membership.

“Parti Gerakan is a party with good ideology to establish a fair and equitable society in Malaysia. It too has many conscientious members who subscribe to this ideology. Unfortunately, within the framework of BN, where the hegemonic race politics of Umno predominates, it is impossible for Gerakan to realise this ideal,” he said.

After more than five decades of “race-based politics”, “racial polarisation has never been as bad as now”, Hsu added. He said he could no longer stomach the "dominance of Umno over everything else within the coalition” and that he was “sick of race-based politics”.

Hsu vowed to continue to fight for a better Malaysia through writing and blogging on the “importance of building a fair and equitable society”. He denied he would be joining the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“My decision to quit is nothing personal and not against anyone in the party. Even though I am quitting, I am still hoping against hope that the party can eventually realise its ideology of a fair and equal society, but given the political reality, it will not be possible in any foreseeable future,” he said.

Be courageous

Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat leaders told Malaysia Chronicle that they sympathized with Hsu.

"Our door is always open, but of course, the rules will have to apply to Hsu as for anyone else. So far, we haven't received any application from him but his quitting is a sign of what ails BN and Malaysia," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"If Umno thought the by-election wins at Kerdau and Merlimau signalled that BN had turned the corner, they are mistaken. Sad to say for Malaysia, the Najib administration has failed to put up a single reform. They can bribe the rural settlers, but in the end, it is Malaysia that will be weakened by their corruption and dishonesty. We urge Malaysians especially the professionals to be courageous and stand up for their country."

Pakatan insiders said should Hsu decide to join their coalition, he was likely to head for DAP.

徐达人医生文告 (08-03-2011)

我 谨此宣布， 由即日起，辞去 所有在民政党内的 职位， 包括中央委员，州委，区会主席，分部主席，普通党员等等。

民政党有良好的理念， 欲在我国建立一个“公平和合理”的社会。党内也 有很多服膺这理念的党员。

可是在国阵里， 巫统一党独大和种族 主义 至上的现实情况下，民政党已不可能实现它的理念。

事实上，虽然我国立国已超过50年， 在种族 主义政策下，种族两极化的现象，已日趋严重。公平和合理化的理念， 也已日趋遥远。

308大选已过3年， 我觉得 除了口号外，种族 主义政策 至上的情况， 没有真正的改变。想在国阵内 纠正种族政策， 已行不通。

我没有加入其他政党的打算。 不过，我会在网上和blog 里，本着“公平和合理”的理念，和廉政开明的重要性， 继续我的写 作和奋斗。