Gerakan ready to merge with MCA and Umno

Gerakan is ready to merge with the MCA or even Umno as long as the parties change their constitution to open membership to all races, said Gerakan national speaker Tan Sri Dr Chin Fook Weng.

“MCA can change to Malaysian Citizens Association instead of Malaysian Chinese Association or Umno can be United Malaysians National Organisation,” he said at a press conference this morning.

Stating that Gerakan has been a Malaysian party open to all races from the start, Chin revealed that the party had contemplated merging with the MCA if the latter was willing to change its party constitution to allow other races to join the party.

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People can decide if time for BN to be a single party: Tengku Adnan

The people and members of the Barisan Nasional (BN) can decide whether the time is right to turn BN into a single party with a new name in line with the current political changes, said BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said the proposal which was made before the 13th general election (GE13) had been revived and should be given serious attention so that BN remained relevant especially to youths.

"We (BN) are indeed looking at the issue of whether the time is ripe for BN to morph into a single party. Whether the people are ready or not we don't know. But many are saying it must be done. We are looking at and scrutinising the methods to implement the proposal.

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'Disband to become one party under Barisan'

Young voters are put off by race-based parties, claims Gerakan

KUALA LUMPUR: GERAKAN acting president Datuk Chang Ko Youn has called upon Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to disband and form one party to eliminate racial politics.

He suggested that Umno, MIC and MCA look into the possibility of removing racial membership in its parties and let people join regardless of ethnicity as young voters were put off by race-based parties.

Chang said BN had to find ways of getting support from young and urban voters to remain relevant to them.

He pointed out that although the old ways still worked with the older generation, a new approach had to be taken in order to capture the minds of younger voters.

"In view of the current political scenario, Gerakan feels that all the parties should revamp their image and go on a non-racial line as a single party to suit the trend of young people."

Chang said the 13th General Election saw a trend of voting in urban areas which crossed racial lines, adding that the Chinese had voted for Pas candidates and vice-versa.

"Two years back, MCA leadership had talks with Gerakan about a possible merger, but we were met with an obstacle as MCA's constitution prevents other races from joining its party."

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BN should merge into single multi-racial party, says Gerakan acting president

"Barisan should be a single party," says Gerakan acting president Datuk Chang Ko Youn.


: KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional should merge into a single multi-racial party or risk fading away in the next five years, said Gerakan acting president Datuk Chang Ko Youn.

Chang said Barisan had to change its approach given the advent of more younger voters and urbanised areas over the next five years.

"In the elections, we saw that the trend of urban voters went across racial lines such as the Chinese voters who voted for PAS candidates and vice versa.

"Currently there are 40% rural voters and 60% urban but this will change in the next five years.


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Koh Tsu Koon resigns as Gerakan chief

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will resign as Gerakan president, effective May 16.

Koh announced today that he had tendered his resignation, after consulting the party's central committee, to take full responsibility for the Gerakan's defeat in the 13th general election and to facilitate the process of leadership transition.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn will take over as acting president until the party elections in October, Koh said.

"I would like to thank Gerakan leaders and members at all levels for giving me the opportunity to serve and lead the party, at its most difficult time, especially within the past five years."

MCA, Gerakan men back Utusan, say Najib should be disappointed with Chinese

The tone of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia’s post-election coverage continued today to be focused on blaming the Chinese community for Barisan Nasional’s poor showing.

Utusan Malaysia also maintained its defence of its incendiary front-page headline on Tuesday “Apa lagi Cina mahu? (What more do the Chinese want?)” by soliciting comments from Malay leaders to say the newspaper was not racist but merely championing the majority race of the country.

Analysts have said data from voting trends showed the outcome of Election 2013 was not simply the result of a “Chinese tsunami” as Datuk Seri Najib Razak had claimed, but a major swing in the urban and middle-class electorate that saw Malaysia’s urban-rural rift widen.

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I will not contest poll, says Koh

Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon will not contest in the next general election to start off ‘leadership renewal’ in the party.