By T.K. Chua

When Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong took a swipe at Lim Guan Eng, asking Lim to “share” the discount he got from his bungalow purchase, we know it is part of politicking. But there was a loud cheer from the crowd when he said that. It is as if the president had hit the right chord.

The party and its president could not be more wrong about this, and perhaps that is the reason for Gerakan not being able to resonate with the people for a long time.

For that “discount”, Lim Guan Eng has now been smacked with charges of corruption and abuse of power, the outcome of which is still pending. His guilt has not been established and yet insinuations and innuendoes are bountiful.

Those who are truly in politics for the people should look at the big picture.

Lim Guan Eng was charged in court, so he must have “done something wrong”. Others, although faced with endless allegations, have not been charged so far. What else could it be? Surely those not charged are as white as snow. Is this not the most simplistic and naïve way of looking at issues confronting us today?

Can we trust people who see a speck of sawdust in another’s eye but pay no attention to the plank in their own?

If Gerakan wishes to play its rightful role, it should start looking at issues pertinent to the survival of this nation, not just Lim Guan Eng and his bungalow discount. Targeting Guan Eng is just a temporary “feel good” fix.

There are many things we want to hear from Gerakan:

First, in what ways could the party have done differently from the DAP in Penang and in Malaysia generally. It is good to rant about DAP’s failures, but it is better for Gerakan to spell out what the party intends to do and how it intends to accomplish it.

Second, how could the party play a more assertive and meaningful role in Barisan Nasional (BN), particularly with regard to its multiracial brand? Is BN still a multiracial, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multilingual coalition in spirit and intent?

Third, can Gerakan even remain relevant and survive given the present political scenario in the country? What is Gerakan’s raison d’etre now?

Get the basics right, the rest will fall in place. Don’t punch above your weight.

T.K. Chua is an FMT reader.

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