In an emotional appeal to Penang Gerakan delegates today, the party’s president Mah Siew Keong warned of a "bigger Tsunami" which can wipe out BN in the coming national polls.
By Tsunami, he was referring to the support of the people to the opposition in the 2008 and 2013 national polls which led to Pakatan Rakyat winning the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Mah said it was very important that BN leaders face the fact that the coalition had weaknesses and they must get their acts together.
He urged BN component parties to show mutual respect for one another.
He said he had met many people during his trip around the country, adding that people are hurt by the current atmosphere of polarisation and politicking.
“We must acknowledge our mistakes, I am also part of BN,” he told about 200 delegates, during the event which was held at the party’s state headquarters along Jalan Macalister.
“We must change our attitudes and change the way we do things, we must get our acts in order or else there will be a bigger Tsunami, that is the truth.
“We still have time as the polls will not be called in one or two years yet, we have to work hard to improve our policies, if we do, I believe we have a chance.
“It is not easy to be a Gerakan member at this point because we are fighting for the truth,” said the Teluk Intan MP.
Many challenges
The federal minister admitted that Gerakan and BN were facing many challenges in the current political situation.
He said one the last two months were one of the “toughest” as there were many fronts to fights and a lot of explaining to do as there were many questions and much feedback from the grassroots.
He told the party delegates that he could not pretend that BN and the country were not facing many problems.
He did not identify the problems but it is believed among them, Mah was referring to the recent threats to the country's multi-racial fabric when pro-Umno supporters held a red shirt rally in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Day, last Wednesday.
The rally was racist in nature as racial slurs were hurled at the non-Malay community by the protestors.
BN also faces intense criticism over Najib's handling of the debt-ridden 1MDB alleged financial scandal and the RM2.6 billion donation deposited in his private bank accounts before the 2013 national polls.
He joked, drawing laughing from the crowd, “Even during my surgery, the doctor was complaining that BN is very bad, I was so afraid that he would cut me deep”.
During a press conference, Mah was also ask how could Gerakan continue to remain in BN when its chief, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, supports the “racist red shirt” rally in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 16.
Mah said the party was doing much soul-searching and such matters need to be discussed with all levels of party leadership.
Unable to give his commitment to such questions, Mah said “we just want to be part of the solution and not the problem”.
Meanwhile, Mah said Gerakan hopes to break the “zero-seat” situation in Penang, where the party failed to obtain any seats in 2008 and 2013 national polls.
“We do not want to be the state government but to be an effective opposition, we appeal to the people of Penang to give us a chance,” he said.
Candidates identified
The party has identified candidates for the coming polls, with the list to be finalised soon.
Penang Gerakan has also worked on a blueprint to improve the state, which will be launched at a later date.
Mah said from feedback gathered nationwide, voters want candidates who have integrity and are honest and clean.
“We need such candidates, they also must have the confidence to serve the people of Penang,” he added.
Mah said that BN and Gerakan were in the crossroads now, but although many wanted to be heroes for championing racial issues, the party would rather take a different approach.
"Politicians have responsibilities, we do not want to be heroes, we would rather be the problem solvers," he added.
Also present were veteran leaders like former Penang chief minister and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon (photo), former national secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye.
BN component party members like state Umno secretary Omar Fauza and state information chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir, and representatives from MCA, MIC, IPF and PPP were also present. - M'kini
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