exclusive Ahead of the Merdeka celebration tomorrow, a Barisan Nasional leader said that the row within the component BN parties lately over purportedly racially offensive remarks has made the country gone backwards to its pre-Merdeka days.

"We always talk about Merdeka (the country's independence) and Merdeka is so near, yet we are still fighting as though we are in pre-Merdeka days," Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye told malaysiakini in an exclusive interview at Parliament House on Monday.

"You can say it's nonsense to celebrate Merdeka," he added when asked about the unity within the ruling coalition in view of the alleged racial sentiments stirred up by an Umno Youth leader recently.

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin irked MCA and Gerakan leaders after he openly told an Umno Youth meeting that the Chinese Malaysian community would take advantage of a weakened Umno to press for their rights.

Khairy, who is Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law, remained firm on his stand and argued any action that "upholds the dignity of religion and interest of ethnic community" does not require an apology.

Elaborating, the 54-year-old Chia - who is also deputy information minister - said the Merdeka celebration is 'not just about raising flags, hands and shout Merdeka', but it should be practised in true spirit.

"We actually have gone backwards, it should be minus 10 Merdeka years, not 49 years of Merdeka, minus 10 Merdeka(s), this is essentially how we are behaving and I think it's wrong, we should progress," he added.

Malaysia is celebrating its 49th year of independence tomorrow.

Malaysian approach

Meanwhile, the Gerakan sec-gen said that the party would continue to use its 'Malaysian approach' to win over more supporters who believe in multiracialism in party politics and hoped that the appeal of ethnic-based parties will be less and eventually fade off.

"You can have a situation (then) where a ethnic-based party becomes so strong (and) we worry whether we can have a peaceful, united country," he explained.

Gerakan is a multiracial-based BN component party but it is dominated by Chinese Malaysians whereas other major ruling parties including Umno, MCA and MIC are ethnic-based representing the Malays, Chinese Malaysians and Indian Malaysians respectively.

The party, which will kick off its national delegates conference with the youth and women's wings on Friday followed by its parent body on Saturday and Sunday, will see four major amendments to its constitution in order to prepare for the party's leadership transition.

Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik has announced he would step down next year and hand over to his deputy Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is also the Penang chief minister.

"He (Lim) is willing (to retire) and is happy about it. We feel there will be no problem in any leadership change, that's the confidence we have," stressed Chia, adding that the party's central committee has resolved that despite Lim's retirement plan, the latter will continue as a minister.

Koh has so far kept an 'elegant silence' on his plan after he takes over as party president.

Asked on how prepared is Koh for the presidency, Chia retorted, "When will he be ready or when is the best time? Will you be urging Lim not to retire?"

Chia also noted that the party has consolidated every group a year after the party's elections, which saw a minor split between supporters for presidential candidates Lim and Kerk Choo Ting. Lim retained the president's post in the election.

He also denied that there were attempts to sideline Kerk, who was Lim's deputy.

"Kerk is still a Gerakan member and an MP. He has been attending party meetings in Johor and it has always been Gerakan's tradition to accommodate those who disagreed with the party's leadership wherever possible," added Chia.

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