By Malaysiakini,
Gerakan delegates today hit out at the ruling coalition's leadership for being too arrogant, blaming the high-handed antics of their "abang in BN" as the cause of Gerakan's loss of public support.
The issue arose during the debate on the president's policy speech on the final day of the party's 39th AGM at the Menara PGRM in Kuala Lumpur today.
Melaka delegate Gan Peng Lam did not mince words when he said that in the BN, one party reigns supreme over the coalition's other components.
"In BN, Umno stands above the rest. MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP are just bystanders," Gan said.
He gave as example how Deputy Premier Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, announced the decision to make history a compulsory SPM subject at an Umno function, when it was clearly a government policy decision.
"Why not announce it at the post cabinet meeting press conference or in a separate function?" he asked.
Gerakan delegates today hit out at the ruling coalition's leadership for being too arrogant, blaming the high-handed antics of their "abang in BN" as the cause of Gerakan's loss of public support.
The issue arose during the debate on the president's policy speech on the final day of the party's 39th AGM at the Menara PGRM in Kuala Lumpur today.
Melaka delegate Gan Peng Lam did not mince words when he said that in the BN, one party reigns supreme over the coalition's other components.
"In BN, Umno stands above the rest. MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP are just bystanders," Gan said.
He gave as example how Deputy Premier Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, announced the decision to make history a compulsory SPM subject at an Umno function, when it was clearly a government policy decision.
"Why not announce it at the post cabinet meeting press conference or in a separate function?" he asked.
Corruption 'order of the day'
Federal Territory delegate Chue Beng Kang said that the "Ali Baba" phenomenon and "corruption" has become the order of the day, urging Gerakan to try and be the check and balance for the coalition.
"Gerakan must create the political profile to differentiate it from BN and step out of the ruling coalition's shadow. Our core strategy is still to remain in the BN but we must be able to be the conscience of BN," he said.
Chue said he hoped the party can check the abuses rampant in the BN.
Meanwhile in summing up the debate, Gerakan vice president Ma Siew Hong insisted that all BN leaders who are found to be racist must leave the BN as they do not follow the tenets of 1Malaysia.
"We should also form a disciplinary committee for BN to address this issue," he said.
Racist remarks from BN and particularly Umno leaders, said Soo Kay Ping from Perak, is also causing Gerakan to lose public support.
"We work hard serving our community, but I hear that they will happily receive our service but still vote opposition DAP or PKR."
Hard work alone, he said, is not enough to win over the public.
"Serving the people for 24 hours on end is for nothing, because BN leaders (spoil our efforts when they) make racist statements."
Polling district sabotage
"We should tell BN leaders, don't waste our good efforts because when an Umno leader, like the Titiwangsa representative said he does not need Chinese votes and makes racist statements we lose support," he lamented.
Johor delegate Cheong Chin Liang even accused their "abang in BN" of acts akin to sabotage through the re-organisation of polling districts that he said nearly caused him to lose in the last general election.
"This is the action of our 'abang in BN' in order to gain advantage for themselves at all cost," he said. He did not name who the “abang” were.
Meanwhile Pahang delegate Yap Kim Heng lamented the lack of Gerakan participation in the BN-led state government.
"There are no Gerakan members in the Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK). The appointment of municipal councillors has also been frozen for six years. How can we serve the people?" he complained.
He warned the ruling coalition not to be complacent as 17 state seats in Pahang won only with a majority of less than 2,000 in the last election.
"If we are not alarmed, BN can become the opposition in Pahang come next general election," warned Yap.
Terengganu delegate Fong Swee Heng went as far as to challenge Umno on its arrogance.
"Umno can take all the seats that Gerakan has contested in the last general election. See if they can win," he said.
"Gerakan must create the political profile to differentiate it from BN and step out of the ruling coalition's shadow. Our core strategy is still to remain in the BN but we must be able to be the conscience of BN," he said.
Chue said he hoped the party can check the abuses rampant in the BN.
Meanwhile in summing up the debate, Gerakan vice president Ma Siew Hong insisted that all BN leaders who are found to be racist must leave the BN as they do not follow the tenets of 1Malaysia.
"We should also form a disciplinary committee for BN to address this issue," he said.
Racist remarks from BN and particularly Umno leaders, said Soo Kay Ping from Perak, is also causing Gerakan to lose public support.
"We work hard serving our community, but I hear that they will happily receive our service but still vote opposition DAP or PKR."
Hard work alone, he said, is not enough to win over the public.
"Serving the people for 24 hours on end is for nothing, because BN leaders (spoil our efforts when they) make racist statements."
Polling district sabotage
"We should tell BN leaders, don't waste our good efforts because when an Umno leader, like the Titiwangsa representative said he does not need Chinese votes and makes racist statements we lose support," he lamented.
Johor delegate Cheong Chin Liang even accused their "abang in BN" of acts akin to sabotage through the re-organisation of polling districts that he said nearly caused him to lose in the last general election.
"This is the action of our 'abang in BN' in order to gain advantage for themselves at all cost," he said. He did not name who the “abang” were.
Meanwhile Pahang delegate Yap Kim Heng lamented the lack of Gerakan participation in the BN-led state government.
"There are no Gerakan members in the Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK). The appointment of municipal councillors has also been frozen for six years. How can we serve the people?" he complained.
He warned the ruling coalition not to be complacent as 17 state seats in Pahang won only with a majority of less than 2,000 in the last election.
"If we are not alarmed, BN can become the opposition in Pahang come next general election," warned Yap.
Terengganu delegate Fong Swee Heng went as far as to challenge Umno on its arrogance.
"Umno can take all the seats that Gerakan has contested in the last general election. See if they can win," he said.
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