Gerakan backs Najib's call to revamp BN

Barisan Nasional has no choice but to change after all its past achievements have been blighted by arrogance of power.

Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that BN needed a fresh start by welcoming and implementing new ideas and new initiatives for real reform.

He also said that the coalition should also realign its direction with people's aspirations.

"However painful such a paradigm shift may entail, BN has no choice but to change or perish," he added.

He was responding to remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday that BN leaders must rearrange their strategies and resolve to make changes not only to themselves but also to the party for the sake of the people and country.

"If we fail to deal with these challenges effectively, punishment awaits us in the 13th general election," he had said.

Koh said that he supported Najib's frank comment.

"It cannot be denied that over the past 50 years, the ruling coalition has succeeded in bringing a lot of development and sustaining peace and stability for Malaysia.

"Unfortunately, all these achievements have been negated by what is perceived as abuse and arrogance of power, whereby benefits have been enjoyed by the privileged few in a disproportionate manner.

"The insensitive words and arrogant behaviour of some leaders added fuel to fire, turning people against the BN government," he said.

Koh also said that the younger generation was much more critical and was getting impatient with what was perceived as BN's reluctance and resistance to change.

BN suffered a heavy blow after it failed to retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in a by-election last Saturday.

The coalition also suffered hammering blow in the March general election, allowing the opposition to make massive inroads.

BN must act NOW

On another matter, Penang Gerakan head Dr Teng Hock Nan welcomed Najib's statement made during the Kuala Terengganu by-election that Umno was not a racist and extremist party as was portrayed.

Teng said BN leaders must accept the people's verdict in the by-election with an open heart and must immediately sit down to analyse and brainstorm on the reasons for the setback.

"We have to immediately take action on our election promises. We have to walk the talk. Election promises should not be just mere political rhetoric.

"However, all too often, BN leaders have been known to make statements to similar effects, but without the requisite follow-through to convince the rakyat that we indeed practice fair and equitable policies in Malaysia," he said.

This, he said, has resulted in many feeling sidelined and disenfranchised by certain government decisions, resulting in continued loss of support for the BN.

He said one area where many Malaysians were disappointed was the civil service which an imbalanced ethnic representation.

Teng said BN leader have recognised the weaknesses and many statements have been made on the need to correct this flaw.

"And it is time that the government takes immediate action in promoting greater ethnic balance in the civil service, and ensure that efforts should not only be done, but be seen to be done, even without elections," he said in a statement.

He also said that the perception that the private sector was overwhelmingly non-Malay must also be corrected.

"The government must promote and provide for real and meaningful Malay and non-Malay entrepreneurship.

"Non-Malay employers in the private sector must also take pro-active action to recruit and assist so that all races in Malaysia are equally represented," he added.