GERAKAN is irrelevant and bankrupt in their political modal

GERAKAN has reached a new low by relying on the support of a person who is credibility bankrupt in order to show their “strength” within the political sphere. This just further affirms that GERAKAN is irrelevant and bankrupt in their political modal.

GERAKAN’s Deputy President, Dato’ Chang Ko Youn called a press conference a few days ago together with a group of so-called “ex-DAP Indian supporters”. One of the main speakers during the press conference, Ravindran, alleged that DAP has failed to help him when needed and he now claims to support Barisan Nasional.

Many of us within DAP Perak knows Ravindran as a person. In 2006, he started selling DAP Rockets in order to earn a living. However not long after that, he incurred a bad debt in his repayment for the cost of the Rocket papers. After consideration, the DAP Perak Publicity Department decided to give him a chance but Ravindran still failed to honour his commitment to pay his outstanding debt by installments as agreed by both DAP Perak and himself. Eventually, he stopped selling Rockets on his own accord. In 2008, Ravindran met with an accident and was unable to work. Though he had not paid the huge bad debt incurred, the DAP Publicity Department, out of concern, gave a lump so of RM300 to him in order to help.

Ravindran knows the truth and DAP will not comment much or give any attention to a person who has no credibility whatsoever. However, it is interesting to note that GERAKAN has treated him with so much honour that when this man was discovered, the National Deputy President had to personally be present at a press conference. This just goes to show how much GERAKAN is politically bankrupt.

Voters in Perak and in fact the whole Malaysia have rejected GERAKAN in the last general elections leaving GERAKAN with only two parliamentary seats. However, through GERAKAN’s post-2008 performance politically and their policies, the people can see that GERAKAN has not learned their lesson taught to them in 2008. GERAKAN does not know and thus have not fulfilled the people’s needs. The situation is similar prior to the 2008 general elections whereby GERAKAN, though they had a substantive number of elected representatives, has failed to influence the formation of government policies within the current ruling coalition.

Compared to DAP’s performance as the opposition for the past 46 years and as partners in government in five states in the past four years, GERAKAN’s performance as a ruling party is dismal at best. Even at its peak, GERAKAN was unable to influence the UMNO-led government policies in any way. It is a fact that they have to give in to UMNO’s demands and have no power whatsoever.

The following are examples of issues in which GERAKAN owes the people an explanation of their stance:

  1. In 2001, Former Prime Minster Tun Dr Mahathir declared that Malaysia is an Islamic State at the GERAKAN National Convention. The then GERAKAN President Tun Lim Keng Yik never objected, and he became the first BN leader who announced support towards Mahathir’s Islamic State Declaration thus causing the status of Malaysia as a secular state to face an unprecedented crisis.

  2. GERAKAN President Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon joined GERAKAN and BN in 1982 as a Chinese Educationist but has failed to follow through with the target of gaining UEC recognition by BN for Chinese Education. Till today, students from SUWA are unable to gain an equal place in the eyes of the government.

  3. In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat while ruling Perak introduced freehold title policies to Chinese new villages. Back then, GERAKAN as the opposition welcomed it and urged for the nominal fees to be paid. However after the power grab in 2009, Chang Ko Youn, who was appointed as the advisor to the Menteri Besar and whilst enjoying the perks similar to a State EXCO, had failed to make BN continue with the implementation of freehold title policy, which was a disappointment to the 152 Chinese new villages.

  4. When Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib instructed the Cabinet to restudy the very controversial insertion of Section 114A of the Evidence Act, Chang Ko Youn declared at once the support of the government’s decision to review and even abolish the insertion. However, when Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz announced that the government will not make any U-turns in the insertion of Section 114A of the Evidence Act, Chang Ko Youn just kept quiet.

  5. In 2009 after the power grab, the BN State Government had approved more than 68000 hectares of state land. BN had promised in the State Assembly to reveal the list of beneficiaries of the said lands and the premium collected. Till today, they have failed to do so. Recently, it was exposed that the current State Government approved 6 acres of prime land in the town of Sitiawan to a company at a much below market value premium rate. Chang Ko Youn, who is very active in Manjung area did not give any explanation and did not use his influence as the Advisor to the Menteri Besar to allow the truth to be revealed.

History does not lie. After observing the past performance of GERAKAN and its flip-flop stance, it is not hard to understand why GERAKAN can go so low as to rely on a person who is bankrupt in credibility in order to show its “strength”.

Wong Kah Woh DAP Perak Publicity Secretary & ADUN for Canning