Gerakan Lempang UMNO, UMNO Terkebil-kebil...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik’s interview in Off The Edge seems to be the latest marker in a widening schism in Gerakan.

The party’s influential adviser and former president’s assessment of the membership’s desire to quit the Barisan Nasional is agreed to by grassroots leaders and observers alike, but they are divided on his suggestion that they give the Umno-led coalition one last chance despite his scepticism over their ability to reform.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, whose book on the party was recently published, says that the difference in opinions goes all the way up to the top leadership.

"The interview shows us Lim is being a bit more sincere now. The other party leaders will simply strike aside the idea of leaving the BN immediately.

"There is a split in the party's direction now between Lim and acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon whose central working committee is loyal to him," he explains, pointing out that the rift was already obvious since the choice of Penang chief minister was being argued prior to the party's March 8 annihilation.

There is one camp, who like Kuala Lumpur Youth chief Ma Woei Chyi, is worried about their political survival: "Are we ready to hop? In terms of organisation and finances, we need time to get ready. Once we leave the BN, will our multiracial philosophy be unique? DAP and PKR offer the same thing."

"It's a dilemma facing the leadership," muses Cheras division chairman Dr Hsu Dar Ren, widely regarded as an influential grassroots leader in the party who favours leaving the governing coalition.

"Whenever the idea of leaving the BN is raised, they say you can either join Pakatan Rakyat and become a mosquito party or become an independent third bloc where you will lose in every three-cornered fight during the elections.

"But so what if we don't have elected representatives? If our ideals are being achieved by other organisations, then it doesn't matter if Gerakan as a party exists or not. It is immaterial whether our fight for a multiracial society is achieved by Parti Gerakan or otherwise," he adds.

There is no question however, that there is a strong sense of frustration with Umno's continued trumpeting of Ketuanan Melayu. Hsu says "Umno is beyond redemption" as it has too much "baggage".

Khoo believes that Gerakan must go back to its roots and reject communal politics by standing up against the Malay protectionist New Economic Policy.

"Leaving the BN will give the party a starting point to recovery. Its association with Umno is indefensible.

"After March 8, the leadership said voters were punishing Umno, and Gerakan was hurt because of that but after the Permatang Pauh by-election, there is a clear indication from the grassroots that young Gerakan members want to pull out and leave communal politics," he says of the party's attempt to win back its network of urban voters.

While Ma agrees that the urban working class has been suffering and, hence, was captured by the opposition in the March 8 elections, he believes the way to regain them is by representing their interest as part of government and performing instead of jumping ship.

"Yes, we can conclude that some are thinking of leaving the BN but where do we go? The thought of partnering Pas, an Islamist party, seems to be like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire," he adds.

Ma prefers Lim's option of giving Umno another chance. Echoing his "we are not deserters" statement, Ma says "we have been friends for 34 years and now when our partners are facing problems, is it morally correct to abandon the sinking ship? We ought to stay and assist them to regain the confidence of the people".

With noises of discontent with the status quo coming from the party's Perak, Penang, Kedah and KL outposts, the situation appears to be building up for a explosive national delegates conference next month.

-TMI