Gerakan Youth urges party to draw clear line against extremism

 

Penang Gerakan youth chief Tan Zhen Zune has resigned from his party positions, citing disappointment with its leadership and decisions that he said compromised its principles. PIC BY NSTP/AUDREY DERMAWAN

GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan Youth has urged the party not to compromise with extremism, warning that doing so could further erode support among moderate voters.

Speaking at the party's delegates' conference, Penang Gerakan Youth chief Tan Zhen Zune said Gerakan could work with any party, but must maintain its principles and draw a clear line against extremism.

He said Gerakan needed partners that were moderate, multiracial, respected the Federal Constitution and upheld the rights of all Malaysians.

"Cooperation should complement each other and seek common ground. But cooperation cannot come at the cost of losing our own principles," he said.

Tan said Gerakan also could not afford to be associated with extremist views, particularly when racial and religious issues were repeatedly raised by parties within Perikatan Nasional.

He questioned whether PN was sufficiently focused on issues affecting Malaysians' daily lives, including raising incomes, creating better jobs, assisting small and medium enterprises, retaining talent and helping young people own homes.

"If a party constantly talks about race and religion, but the people are unclear about its economic plans, surely they will ask: 'Besides race and religion, what else can PN do for our country?'" he said.

Tan said Gerakan was currently "caught in the middle", with Malay voters having larger and stronger Malay-based parties with wider grassroots networks, while non-Malay voters were increasingly finding it difficult to accept Gerakan.

He said Gerakan leaders were often left explaining or defending controversial statements made by coalition partners, while sometimes choosing to remain silent.

"The result? We have yet to truly gain Malay support, while non-Malay support is increasingly slipping away," he added.

Tan questioned Gerakan's position within PN, asking whether the party was genuinely treated as a partner or merely used to demonstrate that the coalition was multiracial.

"When it comes to policies, direction, seat allocations and major decisions, we have to honestly ask: 'To what extent is Gerakan's voice actually heard?'" he said.

He also questioned how many of Gerakan's original supporters remained with the party, how much Malay support it had actually gained, and how many moderate voters and grassroots members had been lost.

Tan said the party must also consider whether its supporters would remain loyal to Gerakan if its coalition partners no longer needed it.

"Gerakan can cooperate with anyone. But we must have principles. We must have a line," he said.

He warned that failing to address extremist statements and allowing overly conservative and extreme thinking to affect the rights of Malaysians would ultimately come at Gerakan's expense.

Tan later announced that he was stepping down as Penang Gerakan Youth chief and Gerakan Youth deputy secretary-general, saying he could no longer continue along a political path he did not believe in.

He said he had previously hoped to change the party's direction and had tried to do so, but eventually realised he was unable to bring about the change he wanted.

"I cannot continue forcing myself to accept a path that I myself do not believe in. And I cannot ask my fellow youth members to believe in something that I myself cannot convince myself of," he said.

Tan said he would submit his formal resignation letter to the Gerakan Youth secretary-general.

He apologised to delegates who might be disappointed by his decision, but said he had to remain true to his principles and take responsibility for what he believed in.

He expressed hope that Gerakan could rediscover its identity and direction before it was too late and return to being a party that genuinely represented all Malaysians.

"That is why, for me, Gerakan still needs to exist," he said. - NST