KUALA LUMPUR - Having been uprooted from its powerbase in Penang in the general election last year,  Gerakan gathers for its annual conference, beginning Saturday, in its protracted battle to repair its image.

Amid perception that the Barisan Nasional component party is weak and has done nothing to overhaul itself, Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow (pic) said the party had been working in the past 18 months to put "our house in a certain degree of cohesiveness".

"We know what we want to do and where to go. The only thing is that we did not communicate this openly," he told Bernama.

Teng said the party might have to re-look this "silent approach" and has planned a retreat at the end of November.

"After that, you will see our overhaul plan. We are aware and understand the perception that we have done nothing after the general election last year," he admitted.

Perception of being Chinese party

Teng said there was a perception that Gerakan was a Chinese-based party that needed to be more vocal to defend issues facing the community.

"In reality, we are a multi-racial party and we look at issues from a Malaysian perspective. When we speak, we cut across race, that's why we are thought of as soft or moderate," he said.

Political showmanship and confrontation, he said, had never been Gerakan's style since its founding days.

Penang-based political analyst Cheah See Kian said he had not seen major changes in the party since the last general election despite Gerakan pledging to overhaul the party to win back support.

"Until now, I don't see any overhaul and the only thing we hear is that come this weekend, some minor amendments will be made to the constitution to make it easier for nominations to contest party posts," he said.

He believed, the failure for a quick turn-around had caused the party to be rejected by the people, citing the failure of the party to garner non-Malay votes for the BN in several by-elections since.

"The people have not forgotten Gerakan...not that they like Pakatan Rakyat but because they have no choice. After the general election, Gerakan is seen playing only a moderate role.

"Gerakan can actually make a very good impact on the people and community, especially in Penang, but we don't see this happening," added Cheah.

Gerakan not being idle

He claimed Gerakan was not focused on Penang, on how to tackle the DAP which had replaced the Gerakan-led state government or how to to regain the hearts of the people in the state.

Gerakan, he said, seemed very much dependent on Umno, the BN's largest component party, to deliver the votes, just as Umno hoped Gerakan could help do the same.

"From the Bagan Pinang by-election, we can see that Umno has taken a new strategy by directly approaching the non-Malay voters, departing from the norm of depending heavily on their component partners," he said, adding that such efforts had proven to be successful in retaining the seat.

Veteran party leader Tan Sri Dr Chin Fook Win rebuffed the notion that Gerakan had been idle.

He said the party tested some approaches to gain back the people's support but it was not successful.

Despite the initial setback, Gerakan is not giving up, he told Bernama.

Following the 1969 general election, just a year after it was formed, Gerakan won most of the state seats in Penang and became the first party not affiliated with the then ruling Alliance party to form a state government in Peninsular Malaysia.

Worst electoral defeat in 2008

In February 1972, Gerakan joined the expanded Barisan Nasional coalition and has remained with it since.

The current leader of Gerakan is Dr Ko Tsu Koon, who won the post of president uncontested in the 2008 party elections.

About 80% of Gerakan's members are Chinese, another 15% are Indians and the rest are Malays and other races.

The party suffered its worst electoral defeat at the last general elections last year, which saw the party retaining only two parliament seats, compared to the 10 seats it had before the election.

As a result, the party lost its only cabinet post in the ensuing cabinet shuffle. In addition, Gerakan also lost power in Penang after governing the state for almost 39 years.

Dr Koh has since been appointed a Senator and named a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. - Malaysian Mirror