KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional component parties should consider championing for Malaysians and not for the particular race or community they represent.

Gerakan believes this is the best approach for BN to regain its support after the March 8 general election.

Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said although BN itself was a multi-racial entity through its component members representing the various races and ethnic groups, it had not adopted the Malaysian way in addressing the needs of the people.

He said political parties should not resort to reverting to the old manner of politics by merely championing communal issues to gain people's support.




"If society has changed and they do not accept race-based party, then the party must either re-invent itself to be a truly Malaysian party, or risk becoming irrelevant."

In line with this, he said, Gerakan must remain politically strong in its ideology and beliefs, and this should be translated into the party's core values and rights and they must be shown in their political culture.

To a question whether Gerakan was still relevant to Malaysians after experiencing a major setback in the elections despite using the Malaysian approach as its tagline, Chia said party members and its leadership felt the party was still relevant. -- Bernama