Koh: Arrogance of power led to crushing loss
“Perhaps, power had gone to our heads after leading Penang for 39 years. We have not done enough in our own approach and attitude,” said acting party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
Speaking to the press after a closed-door meeting with 1,500 central delegates, Koh was merciless in analysing Gerakan’s defeat in Penang, and its similarly disastrous performance nationwide where it won only two parliamentary and four state seats.
Koh blamed the dismal performance on its leaders losing touch with the grassroots as well as “arrogance of power” in Barisan Nasional.
He said due to their busy schedule as government officials, the needs of the rakyat were neglected.
“The general election results were also due to the people’s dissatisfaction with perceived arrogance of power within BN, especially over certain Umno leaders whom through their words or actions have resulted in resentment,” he said, adding that BN also needed to change its way to survive. But Koh also described the results as a “blessing in disguise”.
“It’s a wake-up call. We have resolved to go back to our original ideals, people, politics and conscience.
“We are going back to the party’s non-racial approach, take care of the people’s needs, make the party relevant to young people and look closely at what is right and wrong and act accordingly,” he said.
The meeting saw delegates calling for the leadership to be more vocal in voicing the needs of the people and for the party to renew itself.
Although the party will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Gerakan will not throw a bash.
Instead, it will be in soul-searching mode as it looks to consolidate the party.
“The next decade is going to be challenging for the party and we hope by our 50th anniversary, we can regain our place in politics,” Koh said.
He added that there was a need for a new Gerakan to emerge, to be a driver of reforms within the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Koh said Gerakan would like to play the role of reformer within the BN.
“Our immediate plan is to re-motivate and remobilise members. Many were in shock for a week as they could not believe what had happened.”
On calls by delegates for the party to bring forward its elections, he said they would get feedback from the grassroots nationwide before making a decision.
The party had postponed its polls to next year.
On the party’s lack of cabinet representation, which may hamper its efforts to get its views across to the coalition, he said he had proposed to the Barisan chairman and deputy chairman to have monthly BN supreme council and management committee meetings to discuss national issues.
He also suggested that working committees be formed at central and division levels to enable everyone in BN to work together.
“I will also call on the prime minister, his deputy and the ministries to voice out issues affecting the people.”
Friends tell me it was a very frank meeting.
If only they had this realisation a year ago..Yes Ah Koon, there is redemption in defeat.
But will the U Must Not Object boss listen ?
Even this morning they are still playing their racist games…
Comment by kittykat46 — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 11: 25.24
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina…
Comment by kittykat46 — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 11: 57.25
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Gerakan is not the Good, for sure.
Comment by wits0 — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 13: 29.31
Tan Sri sounded very much an upright man after his election defeat. He was so arrogant before the election, boasting about what he has done for the factories in Penang. Now….
Comment by Wormie — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 17: 06.02
i hope its not too late to foundout cancer in your body,but now take 6 chemoautotrophic and wake up your mind,because we are frustrated in this country with racial conflict and not human equality
Comment by toomanycook — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 22: 04.58
Tan Sri also say that there is a need to say things that need to be said, especially against the people within the BN who are arrogant and dominating( meaning the UMNO). But he has never said much in this respect.
Comment by Leo Seagull — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 23: 19.50
Ask BK Ong of MALVU about this wimp, Koh. He should be having a good documentation.
Comment by wits0 — Monday, 24-03-2008 @ 23: 33.22
We are going back to the party’s non-racial approach, take care of the people’s needs
What the Chinese and the Indians want more than anything else is equality. This means getting rid of the dogma of Malay supremacy and the neo-apartheid NEP. If Gerakan just try to put up some cosmetic job and not get down to the real substance, then it will never get back into the turst of the people.
More specifically, Gerakan should propose in parliament to allow Chinese and Indians who have assets of .5 million ringgit and have invested in Malaysia for longer than 10 years to become citizens. The laws should also make it easier to allow foreign investors, especially Chinese and Indians, to invest and live permanently in Malaysia. In other words, Malaysia should follow the immigration policy of Singapre with respect to welcoming the Chinese and Indians.
With a more welcoming immigration policy and the elimination of the Malay supremacy and the abolishment of NEP, then maybe Malaysia will have a chance to attract talent and investment and develop a dynamic economy. Otherwise, the slow downward slide will continue with the Chinese running away in a brain drain and capital flight and no influx of talent and capital that will leave Malaysia in a backward state similar to Indonesia.
Comment by Liang1a — Thursday, 27-03-2008 @ 15: 50.51