BN loses Gerakan following party leaders' unanimous vote to leave

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 23 Jun 2018 1:55PM · 3 Comments

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong says the decision to exit the partnership was made following 'serious, comprehensive deliberation' of the political scenario post GE14. – The Malaysian Insight pic, June 23, 2018.

GERAKAN has decided to leave the Barisan Nasional coalition, party president Mah Siew Keong said today.

It was a unanimous decision made by the party’s central committee in a meeting today.

It came after “serious and comprehensive deliberation” of the political scenario post-GE14, he said.

“The decision also took into consideration the sentiments and feedback of grassroots.

“We believe it is absolutely necessary for Gerakan to embark on a new political journey with freedom, empowerment and assertion in pursuing what we believe is best for Malaysia and Malaysians – an egalitarian and united Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

Gerakan contested 11 Parliament and 31 state seats in GE14 and lost all.

With its departure, BN is down to three components – Umno, MCA and MIC – from the 13 before the general election.

Mah said the decision to leave was “in line with new aspirations, needs and demands of the people post-GE14”.

“We decided that Gerakan must chart a new direction to sustain ourselves and continue our struggle,” he said, adding that it would continue its pursuit of liberalism, multiracialism and pragmatism in Malaysian politics, which the party claimed it pioneered in the early days of Malaysia.

“We will strive to reprise our role once again in a maturing multi-party system.

“We leave BN on good terms. Gerakan will play its role as an independent party in the opposition bloc to offer check and balance to the Pakatan Harapan government as a constructive opposition.

“We will cooperate with like-minded parties, individuals and groups in the national interest to uphold and defend the federal constitution, the rule of law and democracy.”

Gerakan began life as an opposition party in 1968 in Penang, where it established a strong base to win most of the seats in the 1969 general election. 

It joined BN’s predecessor, the Alliance, in 1972 and was the only multi-racial party in BN on Peninsular Malaysia. – June 23, 2018.

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Comments

  • Gerakan origin is that of MCA rebels who tried to ride the wave of socialism and pluralism for their own selfish purposes. Gerakan is part of BN because, like all BN component parties, they are opportunists with an idea. So now the opportunity is gone, what do they stand for, what is their differenciating idea? Checking on DAP? It cannot last for opportunists.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Will BN now move closer to the ideals of our founding fathers in 1957?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Mr Mah Siew Keong, you are really nothing but a big hunk of shit, still trying to twist and turn even after the life support has been turned off. Credibility......zero,trustworthiness.....zero,reliability......zero integrity......zero.ZERO ZERO ZERO,nothing.

    Posted 5 years ago by Eng Piow Tang · Reply