While I applaud the vocal opposition of Gerakan party to the MCA takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press, I also think the time has come for Gerakan to seriously review its role in Barisan Nasional.

Gerakan, I think, is too tiny or powerless to act as a countervailing force against MCA in the Barisan Nasional. It may and could make some noises and claim to be "the conscience of BN or Chinese" but is it effective? Has it brought any positive and visible results?

Gerakan has joined Barisan Nasional since 1974 and yet it has not been able to dilute the communalist ideologies of Umno, MCA and MIC. Gerakan has also not been able to stop the many abuses of the law, the destruction of judicial independence, press freedom, deterioration of the economic conditions and the use of obnoxious laws like the Internal Security Act, etc.

In a situation of helplessness and purposelessness, Gerakan can only compete with MCA as a Chinese-based party. But then, it has not been very successful also because of the lack of resources and mass base. It will remain or even degenerate into a regional party in Penang, ruling for ruling's sake, and always being squeezed in between Umno and MCA.

One way out for Gerakan is to quit BN and join forces with the multiethnic masses for reformasi. Only in this way could Gerakan hope to preserve its founding ideology and ideal of multiethnic social justice for all. Think about it seriously. Time and tide wait for no man.