“Barisan Nasional (BN) definitely needs a fresh start by welcoming and implementing new ideas and new initiatives for real reform, as well as realigning its direction with people’s aspirations,” said Gerakan President, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

While supporting the frank comment by BN’s Deputy Chairman Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak that BN needs a paradigm shift, Dr Koh stressed, “however painful such a paradigm shift may entail, BN has no choice but to change or perish.”

“It cannot be denied that over the past 50 years, the ruling coalition has succeeded in bringing a lot of development and sustaining peace and stability for Malaysia.”

“Unfortunately, all these achievements have been negated by what is perceived as abuse and arrogance of power, whereby benefits have been enjoyed by the privileged few in a disproportionate manner. The insensitive words and arrogant behaviour of some leaders added fuel to fire, turning people against the BN government.”

Dr Koh said the people, especially the younger generation, have become much more critical with greater access to more information. “They are getting impatient with what they perceived as BN’s reluctance and resistance to change.

“Therefore, BN needs to be even more tolerant and open to diverse views which must be welcomed as long as such views are well-intentioned and not meant to promote hatred, extremism and terrorism.”

In this respect, Dr Koh agreed with the author of the book, “New Politics,” Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, that BN has to be more inclusive and practise participatory democracy.

“After all, the original spirit in forming BN 35 years ago was to be inclusive, to be fair and just to all, as reflected in the BN’s symbol of a balanced dacing (weighing scale). Hence, while changing with the times, we must reaffirm and renew this original spirit,” concluded Dr Koh.