Gerakan has received 27,000 new members since 2008 and this significant growth in membership is proof that the party is still relevant in Malaysian politics.

Party president Sdr Dr Koh Tsu Koon who revealed this figure, said following its dismal showing in the general elections in 2008, Gerakan is down but not out as what its detractors would want it to be.

“We must continue to work hard and play our role well as a constructive opposition, especially in Penang where we lost badly. It is equally important that all members must remain united and continue the party’s struggles,” he said when addressing about 400 party leaders and members at Penang Gerakan’s Malam Mesra at the state party headquarters in Macalister Road on Saturday.

Dr Koh reminded members that Gerakan was not born as a governing party and had started as United Democratic Party (UDP), an opposition party.

Redressing the unfair accusations by some quarters that he had “nothing to show for 18 years as Penang Chief Minister, Dr Koh said such remarks were an insult to the people of Penang.

“We couldn’t be having the support of the people to administer Penang for 18 years and did nothing. In fact, we had worked hard to increase revenue for Penang as well as control expenses,” he related.

During his tenure, he had approved development projects that would benefit the people and those projects not benefiting the people were shot down. “We did not blow our trumpet. For example, the PGCC project was not approved because of problems such as too high density, traffic and no low-cost housing.”

Penang Gerakan chief Sdr Dr Teng Hock Nan said challenges would come to us non-stop.

“We have nothing left to show. But we are still with the party and this is our most valuable asset,” he said, adding that we should use wisdom to ride through the current rough patches.

Dr Teng said Gerakan is irreplaceable politically or ideology-wise. Our ideology is futuristic.

He stressed that the state government must be checked and balanced otherwise they would take us to “Holland” (nowhere).

He advised party leaders and members to go to the ground to meet the grassroots so as to better understand their problems.

Malam Mesra organizing chairman Sdr Ong Thean Lye said outsiders should not “campur tangan” into Gerakan’s internal affairs.

Ong, who is also a Penang Gerakan vice-chairman, said party members know how to handle our internal matters.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Sdr Oh Tong Keong said the Youth Section would not compromise with anything that is against the party’s ideology.

He regretted that the Pakatan Rakyat state government had nothing solid to show since 2008.

“Some of the examples are there is no plan to manage the heritage city and no plan to manage public transport.”

Penang Gerakan Wanita chief Sdr Ng Siew Lai said it is important for every member to move forward and work hard to regain our lost seats.

“We should set aside differences and work together for the common goal of serving the people,” she added.

by Editorial Desk
gerakan4u.com