Excerpt from the report:
Gerakan members need to redouble their efforts and work harder to prove that its national advisor’s comment that the party has lost Penang for good is wrong, party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said today.
Advising the members to take Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik’s comment as a challenge, he said they should give more emphasis to the party ideology and to providing genuine and sincere service to the people first without thinking of a return.
“So, if they are upset, I will advise them to work hard to prove that the advisor is wrong,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the statement made by Lim in an interview with The Edge Financial Daily on Feb 18, which seemed to upset many Gerakan members.
He went on to say that the former party president explained that he meant well and that it was meant as a shock treatment for the party members and would be glad if he could be proved him wrong.
To me, what was most disconcerting was KSK's statement: "We have taken note, but let’s just move on."
I am a true blue Penangite - born here, grew up here and will die to be buried here one day. In the last twenty-five years of so, under the helm of Gerakan, there has not been much growth and development for the people. I do not want to do any mud-slinging act here but wish to reiterate that for too long, Gerakan was like a muzzled dog, not daring to speak up and to speak out when the situation warranted it. While it should have been the mouthpiece of the people, they were pro-BN all the way supporting the status quo. Loyalty is a good trait and must be shown in the right direction. Besides, they must remember who elected them to govern Penang and their loyalty must be towards the people!!! But has it been that way?
Today, Gerakan appears like a timid, childish and immature party with a leader that does not display the gungho fervor for the rakyat. During their reign, did they put the rakyat's interests first 100% of the time? Even after the March 2008 loss, KTK was asking Penangites to give BN a chance to reform and change.
And now, at least a senior person such as Lim Keng Yaik has the moral decency to face the truth that Penangites no longer believe in Gerakan. And how does the national leader react? As mentioned earlier, he said that they have taken note but let's JUST MOVE on.
What have they noted? Did they ever dare to face the truth or have they been deluding themselves? What did he mean by move on? Does it mean listen, do nothing and carry on as usual with the same attitude and frame of reference minus the political will to be a party that can spell change for Penang? Do they have the political will to make a REAL and GENUINE difference to the rakyat, especially Penangites?
I have been told that after the March 8 tsunami, many in Gerakan wanted to leave but were advised against it. Fine. If there is some sense of loyalty, it augurs well for the party. But this loyalty has to be harnessed to maximize the potential of some good men and women within Gerakan to groom them and to ensure that they can one day be future leaders. However, this was not the case. Issues were swept under the carpet and the nonchalance and blase statement shows that they do not seem to take criticism seriously.
Constructive criticism as seen in the challenge given by Lim Keng Yaik is good IF it succeeds in propelling members to change for the better. But their reaction smacks of indifference. Worse still, instead of being grateful for that jolt to reality, KTK was asked if action would be taken against Lim for issuing such a statement. The audacity of it all!!! Come on. LKY was a former national leader for Gerakan! Do we hear UMNO members asking leaders if action would be taken against TDM for raising issues? Of course not!! At least UMNO members have respect for TDM in that area.
The truth always hurts. This time, it cuts both ways - it is a grim reminder that Penang has lost its lustre due to the gentlemanly leadership of some leaders who did not move forward aggressively to grab the bull by its horns to protect the interests of Penangites as and when issues popped up. A good example is the name-calling issue and when KTK's picture was torn. He did not even bat an eyelid and took it all in his stride. So how? Obviously, they lead in such a way that they see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil to remain in the good books of some leaders. Now, all they can do is to live in a make-believe world of their own that all is well when it is NOT.
What say you, dear reader? Do share your views. Thanks. Have a lovely evening.
Penangite We can no longer trust a backdoor minister, can we?