KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Far from disintegrating after being smashed in the March 8 general election, Gerakan believes its multiracial ideology makes this the right time for the party to become more relevant.
With Gerakan heading into crucial party elections this weekend, the multiracial agenda has become an important side plot for the party at a crossroads.
Several leaders believe that with Barisan Nasional’s race-based politics becoming increasingly obsolete, it can start playing a more central role in the future of the governing coalition instead of leaving it.
Vice-president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the March 8 debacle had a brighter side in that the people had validated the party’s ideology which had to be compromised for the sake of unity within BN.
“We need to return to the right path and base our decision-making on our ideology which is still the best for a multiracial society,” he said.
“We can be very relevant now in BN. Now, it must really become multiracial and not just have a token Malay, Chinese and Indian to represent it,” Selangor chairman Senator A. Kohilan Pillay told The Malaysian Insider.
“If not today, one day all parties must be multiracial. This is the time for Gerakan to play a bigger role and become more relevant. Our multiracial ideology is the best for the future,” he added.
While the party has a 20 per cent non-Chinese membership, it has seen very few step up as leaders until now. But at this weekend’s polls, the race for vice-president will see a surprise four non-Chinese out of 10 candidates.
On top of that, on Sept 7 Kohilan became the party’s first ever non-Chinese state chairman. The Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said the win reflected the party’s “colourless principle”.
But at last weekend’s nomination, even he must have been surprised to see a Malay candidate for vice-president.
Dr Asharuddin hopes his candidacy will open the eyes of people.
That the party itself could not remember its own historical trivia concerning Malays was a telling sign of how far the party has wandered from the multiracial ideology set in place from its 1968 co-founding by its first president Prof Syed Husin Alatas.
“In a way it is true,” Dr Asharuddin told The Malaysian Insider when asked if the party had lost its way in recent times.
“Umno became so dominant that Malays believed it was the only party they should join. Very few considered Gerakan mainly due to our own weak positioning and marketing,” said the 10-year party member.
The Kuala Selangor division secretary hopes that his candidacy will “open the eyes of those outside to our multiracial outlook and at the same time to show Malays in the party that they can climb up the ladder.”
“To bring in more non-Chinese, we need to go out and participate in society and educate and bring awareness of our ideology,” the 49-year-old said.
Kohilan also agreed that many times, it was because of a lack of candidates that members could not choose non-Chinese leaders.
Meanwhile, he himself has decided to return as a central working committee member instead of contesting for a higher post.
“It’s not necessary for me to go for vice-president. I am already wearing so many hats,” he said, although he admitted that he had received support to do so.
He said that his role as Selangor chief was an important one as it was time for the party to go back to basics.
“We need to be more active on the ground. In Selangor, there are three divisions that are not yet formed. We need our branches to participate in community.
“When we say we want to be more vocal, it also has to be at a local level. Selangor is under Pakatan Rakyat but they are not perfect so we can voice out the concerns of the people.”
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