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BN Parties Should Consider Championing For Malaysians Regardless Of Race

Posted by Super Admin
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 18:00
(Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should consider championing for Malaysians and not for a particular race or community they represent. A member of the coalition party, Gerakan, believes that this is the best approach for BN to regain its support after the March 8 general election. Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr 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. For example, when BN championed certain issues, component parties highlight the differences among the Malaysian races, he said. If BN adopted the Malaysian approach, it could highlight the commonality among the population and not just look at the perspective of their own community, he told Bernama in an interview. Hopefully one day, it does not matter from which background a person comes from, he will be looked at as a Malaysian. "The danger here is that when society is not ready, then we have to be pragmatic," he said. Chia said political parties should not resort to reverting to the old manner of politics by merely championing the communal issues to gain support from the grassroots. He said when society was ready for a Malaysian approach, then the political parties, particulary BN, must embrace it. "We must leave it to the comfort level of everyone. We cannot force them. 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 belief and this should be translated into the party's core values and rights and they must be shown in their political culture. "Once we are clear with our ideological stand, our value system, the right political culture, then we become more of our own identity -- what we perceive as an ideal identity and we will emerge as the leader in this identity," he said To a question whether Gerakan was still relevant to Malaysians after experiencing a major setback in the March 8 general election despite having championing the Malaysian approach as its tagline, Chia said party members and its leadership felt the party was still relevant. "We think Gerakan has a future, that is to be a Malaysian political party in a multi-racial society. We cannot ignore the fact that we are a multi-racial society, but we want to be a Malaysian party," he added. On whether Gerakan would quit the BN, Chia said the question did not arise as the party made a decision based on its idelogical stand and political culture. Chia said Gerakan's strength was unaffected after the election as there was no major split among its members. "But this does not mean that we should be complacent. We must continue working together to rebuild the party to make it even stronger," he said. Comments (16) ... written by Thesinner, May 21, 2008 \| 18:16:26 "A member of the coalition party, Gerakan, believes that this is the best approach for BN to regain its support after the March 8 general election." Why din't you tell BN the figure 8 this year is very bad according to Chinese Feng Shui? (The date of GE12 was on 8th day of March 08!)Anyway it's too late already lah report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +6 ... written by Jan, May 21, 2008 \| 18:19:07 UMNO wouldn't have it, it means their dominance will diminish. Just last year they were fighting for Ketuanaan and even waved the keris. This year they are fighting for Kedaulatan even though they lost a few states. Next year they will think of something to fight for and they are waiting for Karpal to say something. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +17 ... written by Tsunami08, May 21, 2008 \| 18:28:11 Another BN lackey making a wishy-washy suggestion...sums up what they do best - saying a lot to mean absolutely NOTHING. BN is a confused lot. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +10 ... written by chanatak, May 21, 2008 \| 18:42:53 On whether Gerakan would quit the BN, Chia said the question did not arise as the party made a decision based on its idelogical stand and political culture. Another typical politician giving a stereotyped political statement of zero worth. The "Let us be brave and speak positively" kind of thing in the face of changing realities. This statement itself is enough for the rakyat to decide that you are no longer relevant. It is not you who decides, dumbo. The rakyat decides. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +14 ... written by cubi76, May 21, 2008 \| 19:36:28 The true spirit of BN before independence had changed. The old UMNO had long changed into a party that cares only for its own leaders and cronies. They dont even bother to care for Malays they claim to be representing, let alone you Gerakan, or MCA, or MIC, or Sabahan, or Sarawakian. They had forgoten the reality of the Malaysia and the struggle for independence. Their mind is all about one race, and most of all, about their own pockets. There's no balance of bargaining power between BN member parties that had led UMNO into current state as arrogant and its leaders greedy and racist. There's only one way for BN to become a political party that represents all races. That's through consolidation and merging of all parties (with or without UMNO). Only by doing that, there could possibly be balance of power and to make BN a party for all. But with that too, it risks the UMNO seeing the move as a threat to their Ketuanan agenda, which again, should not be in their mind in the first place. All in all, I do hope that Malaysian politic has come to a next stage that could see emerging of two party system, that's idealogy-based rather than race-bsed. By then the true meaning of check and balance in the parliament could be realised. And the meaning of Independence ie to make Malaysia an equal place for all, can be realised. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4 ... written by Rolling Stone, May 21, 2008 \| 19:53:54 My friend, what you are saying is what Pakatan Rakyat is all about. Why should we look forward for a new thinking BN when we already have Pakatan.. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +7 ... written by JaguhKampung, May 21, 2008 \| 20:49:07 Dream on. With UMNO in BN, this will never happen. When UMNO said "untuk Bangsa, Agama dan Negara", that word "Bangsa" is not referring to Malaysians as one bangsa. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +8 ... written by Daryl, May 21, 2008 \| 22:27:40 The government should be the leader in bringing about this type of changes (MAlaysian Base regardless or race or religion) not you or me. In this case they have failed what the mjority wants or at least those in the five states. However, they are still pressing foward with the race and religion based politics and determine to undermine what rakyat in the five states want. These five states pay tax as well and probably majority of it will go to the other seven states. Amateur politicians with no other skills... They only have one skill which is use their power to become rich and some is even stealing money from it.. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3 ... written by Fernz, May 21, 2008 \| 23:38:15 Half of the Umno MPs, led by Badawi, should get together with PR and form the Federal Government. http://fernzjoefernandez.blogspot.com report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2 ... written by Edwin Choo, May 22, 2008 \| 00:47:14 Gerakan is already drowning in its own bullshit and they still don't know about it. These jokers really get a hard-on when talking about such issues. So man, ah!!! Go suck eggs, bloody pondans. You are sooooooooo irrelevant today! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3 ... written by CitizenBodohland, May 22, 2008 \| 08:57:18 Chia said party members and its leadership felt the party was still relevant. We think you "syok sendiri" as the Rakyat have already rejected Gerakan. Dream on.... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 ... written by kstee, May 22, 2008 \| 09:05:48 yes, they should championed all races but then Mr Gerakan don't you realise that there is only one race in Malaysia - the Malays. The rest are considered as ..... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 ... written by harryo, May 22, 2008 \| 10:26:34 BN and you will never change. Neither do you have the guts to tell UMNO. So why bother. PR is there. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 ... written by MyView, May 22, 2008 \| 13:46:38 Memang dari dulu laaa. Why so stupid.? UMNO fights for Malay, MCA for Chinese, MIC for the Indians PBS Sabahan and so on. Semua ini parti kompenen BN lah bodoh, if some people thought that no one came to help him means that relevent party tak buat kerjee lahh. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 ... written by MyView, May 22, 2008 \| 13:47:18 Because report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 ... written by chin, May 22, 2008 \| 15:00:56 Its trully a time for change, Gerakan leadership needs to remove its self-serving mentality and start looking to the genuine multi-racial option that PR offers. Already Gerakan members are leaving to join PKR. Stop listening to your own bullshit and offer to merge with PKR. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0 Write comment You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

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