A month after its disastrous outing in the March 8 general election, Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye tells TAN CHOE CHOE that the party would move forward and rebuild by going back to its core values and seeking new talents

Q: What is the sentiment like in the party now?

A: We ’re going round the country, meeting members, organising and rebuilding. It’s been meeting after meeting. The turnout had been surprisingly good —packed rooms in Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur — despite the short notices.

I think the (election) results created a sense of urgency among members and this is a positive thing. We need to galvanise it into a new energy to move the party forward.

We can either cry over spilt milk or turn this defeat into something positive.

Q: What is this new direction for Gerakan?

A: From the feedback, we know Gerakan’s core values are intact.

We ’re proud that we still have a positive political culture among our members.

I believe people voted against Barisan Nasional and, of course, Gerakan is in the way. A lot of people have expressed sympathy, support and regret. But we have become less vocal.

And while we maintained our political culture and values, we did not impose them —we did not tell our component partners that these are the values of a Malaysian society; that they should practise them too.

We should see how we can have a healthier political culture within BN —that will be our new mission as a component party.

Wewant to move forward by going back to our core values, political culture and ideology.

To rebuild, we also need new talents; younger leaders and grassroot members.

Q: (Acting president) Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and (Gerakan adviser) Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the arrogance of certain Umno leaders had angered voters.

Would the results have been different if Gerakan had spoken up about this earlier?

A: The results are multi-factorial.

The major factor is the anti-BN wind that’s sweeping across the country, caused by political events in the past two years. We know some statements made by our component parties were extreme and we have expressed our opinion, but maybe not loud enough.

Perhaps if we had been more vocal, it could have reduced the catastrophe; checked the anti-BN wind that was blowing.

I don’t like to blame anybody because what’s important is to examine ourselves first. Ifwe had not done our best to correct something which was very different from our core values, perhaps we should make a more concerted and stronger stand and make it known that this is something which we cannot tolerate. We will do it now, to whatever limit we can.

Q: Gerakan has often been touted as a Chinese-based party, so what are these core values? Are they still of multi-culturalism, multi- racialism?
A: Our slogan has always been to build a fair and just Malaysia. We have embraced the Vision 2020 and we’ve almost adopted the (concept of) Bangsa Malaysia. You can call it Bangsa Malaysia or Malaysian. Whatever it is, we should have a common identity and common goal to move forward.

Gerakan’s ideals are still based on multi-ethnicity.

Q: You ’ve done the post-mortem.What is the cause of Gerakan’s downfall?

A: Our mistake is thatwe have not championed the Malaysian cause more strongly. I think there’s a growing group, especially the young, who’re very different. They think Malaysian. But it’s better late than never.

We were the first few to approach politics from a solely nonethnic viewpoint—the Malaysian way. But we’ve lost the initiative.

The voters now don’t care of what colour or creed the candidates are.

It’s a wake-up call and we want to seize (back) the initiative.

Q: What made the party lose the initiative? Is it complacency?

A: We can say it’s complacency, maybe it’s because of economic development. The emphasis on ideological and philosophical base (of the party) has weakened, not only in Gerakan, but in other parties too.

At the same time, issues of religion and language have brought in two extremes. One is a more negative, narrow, conservative group which is more inward-looking visà- vis their own religion.

Then there’s a younger group who feel we should tolerate and accept Malaysia as a multi-ethnic society, respect everyone’s differences.

Yes, we have lost focus, perhaps because we have not emphasised enough on Bangsa Malaysia. We have always maintained it in our national conferences, (but) the question is how to translate this down to the grassroots.

Q: Some people are saying that Koh Tsu Koon’s indecision over his successorwas one of the main contributors to Gerakan’s poor outing.

A: My answer is still the same.

(The results) have multiple causes.

Some are more dominant.

Q: So you won’t deny it?

A: This is one of the factors that many people have told me. The reason I don’t want to say this is because I’m (one of) the interested parties. If I agree too much, then people will say it’s sour grapes.

That ’s why I’m not saying anything.

Q: You say Gerakan champions multi-ethnicity. But whywere only Chinese candidates fielded in the last general election?

A: Perhaps, we have become too idealistic and alienated from the reality. There is a difference between form and content.

Content is that if we are Malaysian-thinking, I don’t see you as a Chinese, but a Malaysian. So it doesn’t matter whether I field a Chinese, Indian or Malay as a candidate.

But society is not ready for it. So it seems we have to go back to form —to be multi-ethnic.

Being Malaysian and being multi- ethnic is different. The latter means I have to have Indian, Malay and Chinese candidates, but the former means it doesn’t matter what colour, creed or even gender.

But the reality doesn’t permit that, so we should be more realistic and pragmatic.

Q: Both Dr Toh Kin Soon (Gerakan veteran) and (national youth vice-chairman) S. Paranjothy commented on the Hindraf issue last year but only Paranjothy was referred to the disciplinary committee. How would you explain this?

A: There’s a difference between party discipline and the merit of the statements. We may agree with the content, but disagree with the party discipline actions.

But it’s over already. We’ll find better ways to handle (such issues).

But issues like this, seemingly small, added up. It’s like the one that broke the camel’s back. We don’t know which one, but it’s the last straw.

Q: Somepeople think parties like DAP and Keadilan are more multi- ethnic than what Gerakan has become.

A: Who has the longer record as a Malaysian party and has been championing multi-ethnicity and a Malaysian Malaysia? I won’t say we are the only ones butwe have a longer history and we’re able to mix and struggle with Malaysians of multi-ethnicity —use non-Chinese if you like, although I don’t like the word. This is something that ’s not easy to forge.

We ’ve proven our political culture and we can work together.

That is not something that many parties can claim.

Q: Dr Toh Kin Soon suggested that Gerakan leave BN if it can’t push through the reforms needed.

A: Different people have pointed out different options for us —stay in BN, join the opposition, or go independent.

At this juncture, the time is not right (to leave).

We will continue to reform from within until such time that it can’t be done. Then, it (leaving) is something we have to rethink.

To move forward, we have to think of how to unite all Malaysians to think as Malaysians and to look at this country as belonging to all of us.

Q: How about merging with component parties of similar ideology, like PPP?

A: We ’ve always had good working relationships with our component parties. If the time or situation permits a merger, then so be it. But I will not force the issue now.

Q: How would you describe the road ahead for Gerakan?

It’s going to be long, tough, and lonely because we’ve set ourselves high ideals. When I say lonely, it’s lonely in the sense that you’re the only one…what Malaysian society are you talking about, (when) nobody talks about it.

Q: So we are going to see a more vocal Gerakan in the future?

A: You ’re seeing it already. Butwe don’t want to be vocal for the sake of being vocal, but based on the values and ideology we believe in.

If it’s not good for Malaysians, we have to speak up.

Q: Will it be difficult, given BN’s norm of discussing things behind closed doors?

A: If we can resolve behind closed doors, we will do it. But if it comes out in the public, if certain people have amassed wealth that’s beyond their means and glaringly displaying it, then do you stillwant to keep quiet?

Q: How is Gerakan adapting to the role of opposition in Penang?

A: We ’re watching. We’ll set up our own committee to monitor DAP and see how it performs.