Gerakan will continue its struggle to win the hearts of the people. Headed by Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon as the key man to rebuild the fallen empire with the help of Huan Cheng Guan as the Penang Barisan Nasional / Penang Gerakan Youth Chairman and Batu Kawan Service team members. Gerakan are going back to the party's non-racial approach, take care of the people's needs, make the party relevant to young people and look closely at what is right and wrong and act according.Gerakan had its meeting which saw delegates calling for the leadership to be more vocal in voicing the needs of the people and for the party to renew itself. Although the party will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Gerakan will not throw a bash. Instead, it will be in soul-searching mode as it looks to consolidate the party.
"The next decade is going to be challenging for the party and we hope by our 50th anniversary, we can regain our place in politics," Koh said. He added that there was a need for a new Gerakan to emerge, to be a driver of reforms within the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Koh said Gerakan would like to play the role of reformer within the BN. "Our immediate plan is to re-motivate and remobilise members. Many were in shock for a week as they could not believe what had happened." On calls by delegates for the party to bring forward its elections, he said they would get feedback from the grassroots nationwide before making a decision. The party had postponed its polls to next year.
On the party's lack of cabinet representation, which may hamper its efforts to get its views across to the coalition, he said he had proposed to the Barisan chairman and deputy chairman to have monthly BN supreme council and management committee meetings to discuss national issues. He also suggested that working committees be formed at central and division levels to enable everyone in BN to work together."I will also call on the prime minister, his deputy and the ministries to voice out issues affecting the people."
