Penang Gerakan - Why EGM?

PENANG GERAKAN - WHY EGM?

When Sdr. Dr. Teng Hock Nan was elected as the Penang Gerakan State Chairman in October 2008 with a majority of 10 votes, he promised to “rebuild the party and lead it to the next level.”

As a freshly elected leader he was expected to unite the Party and mobilise every member to work towards a common political programme. Since assuming office, he has a free hand to turn the Party round and to improve the image of Gerakan with the Penang electorate.

Let’s ask ourselves, what has substantially happened since he took over the chairmanship?

Over the last 2 years, Gerakan’s image has further deteriorated. There is this pervasive sense of “business as usual” in Gerakan. It seems like the leaders have still not woken up to the fact that they have been totally rejected by the electorate. They walk and talk like as if they are still in power.

The fact is, none is in the state assembly and yet none has been an effective opposition. Unable to gauge the sentiment of the Rakyat, more importantly, the lack of leadership and strategic planning have led to only sporadic, ill planned attacks on the State government, which only further distance the party from the public.

Gerakan is in crisis, internally and externally. Is Dr Teng the right person to lead us out of this crisis?

It is undeniable that he has contributed significantly to the party in his long years of service. But, for now, Gerakan is in an unusual, turbulent time, full of uncertainty. Every member is looking for a strong leadership with coherent strategy and sound political programs to actively engage the electorate.

We need a leader who can grasp and show us the big picture, to hold up a beacon of hope to spur us on, to unit all factions in the party, to harness all the youthful enthusiasm and energy, channel them and nurture them towards the ultimate goal of upholding the party ideals.

Most of all, we need a chairman who places the party above self.

Have we seen any of these aspirations fulfilled so far?

Should we wait on?

How much time do we have?

Albert Einstein said “insanity: is to keep on doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

Let’s take stock of our situation, are we all heading towards the mental asylum?

It is now 2 years since the devastating defeat of 308, is the state Chairman still act the same, talk the same, and think the same, yet foolishly hope that Gerakan will rise above the crisis and be in power again?

Or, is he folding his arms and wait for the Pakatan to implode itself and voilà! The Rakyat will favor Gerakan again?

Seriously, Gerakan Penang needs a total revamp, RIGHT NOW!!

If we are committed to change, we must change now.

To pick up from where we are now, to improve the image of the party, to undo all the damages done, to regain lost ground – we need time.

Realistically, TIME is what we do not have.

Many have said, “It is wrong to rock the boat now.”

How much more wrong it is to be on board a sinking boat and do nothing?

The road leading to the Extra General Meeting.

After much deliberation and multiple attempts to find an amicable way out, the delegates have taken the unprecedented and painful step of going to the EGM for a vote of no confidence on the state chairman.

When a patient comes into the hospital with a ruptured appendicitis, the surgeon chooses to use the sharpest knife on him, not out of hatred but out of the need to save a life.

Heart renting as it may be, the grassroots has seen the EGM as the only last ditch effort to save the Party from further degeneration. We are mindful that the EGM will not lead to the end of the woes besetting the party, but at least, it is the beginning of the end of the deterioration in the party.

We truly appreciate the concern Dr Teng has for the welfare of the Party, namely his fear of a vacuum in the leadership if the motion of the EGM is passed.

We are confident, the party will not be worse off after a change in the state chairmanship. We firmly believe there are still enough capable leaders left in the party, who have enough love and passion for the party to be revived. When the circumstances call for their service, they would step up to take on the role of leading the party. The party badly needs new blood, new approach, and new energy to bring it to overcome the multitudes of hurdles ahead.

Leader in crisis.

Crisis has the effect of stripping one bare to reveal the real character of a person. We, the delegates, are watchful of the responses and strategies of the embattled Chairman. All the words and deeds of him and his inner circle will be scrutinized and evaluated to let us all accurately assess - What Dr Teng is made up of?

This EGM has open up a golden opportunity to let us peek into his character. At the moment, the delegates are not pleased with what they have seen.

For the many reasons above, the EGM is necessary and the motion is inevitable. Let us all take the very first baby step to salvage the party, and open the door towards a brighter future for the party that we all love.

“Not that we love you less but we love the Party more.”

Gerakkanlah Gerakan

30 September 2010