CURRENTLY A LOT OF BN LEADERS WHO ARE ARROGANT AND INSENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE RAKYAT AND THESE LEADERS SHOULD BE REJECTED - LIM

‘A BN transformation plan needed’

KUALA LUMPUR Oct 15, 2011: Gerakan Youth today called for a “transformation plan” for Barisan Nasional where component parties views are considered when making decisions in the government.

National youth chief Lim Si Pin said that certain national issues are currently left to “certain ministers” and not based on consensual agreement among all component parties.

“I propose that the Barisan Nasional council be made superior to the cabinet as we must understand that BN is a joint government.

“It’s not an Umno, MIC, MCA, or Gerakan government belonging to any one component party,”

said Lim at the opening of the 24th national Gerakan youth delegates’ conference.

Lim lamented the fact that even after 50 years, racially based component parties still had to “beg and beg” for allocations for Tamil and Chinese schools.

“Why are issues concerning education only left to certain ministers and not based on an agreement from all?

“BN should cater for multi-ethnic education and permits should be given to schools regardless of race,” he said.

Lim said another issue was the teaching of science and maths in English, which was decided by certain ministers and not discussed by BN, leading it to labeled a “flip-flop government”.

Lim said that there were currently a lot of BN leaders who are arrogant and insensitive to the needs of the rakyat and these leaders should be rejected.

“There is a lot of talk about winnable candidates. One may have PhD, be eloquent at debates, has a good track record but has flaws in characters. It’s shameful,” said Lim.

‘Gerakan is at its lowest ebb’

He cited the case where an MP distastefully linked a water leak in parliament to women’s menstrual cycle, and another who ridiculed reporters for speaking in English rather than in Malay.

“These are not the kind of ‘winnable’ candidates that we want. Even if they win 10 times, and with a 10,000 majority, we don’t want them because they bring a bad name to BN,” he said.

Lim said part of the “BNTP” or Barisan Nasional Transformational Plan should include involvement of other parties and not having only office bearers from a single party.

“Sadly BN office bearers…the deputy, secretary, treasurer, information chief are mainly from Umno. If you believe in power sharing, we should share our roles,” he said.

Lim urged delegates not to give up hope even though Gerakan was at “the lowest ebb of its history”, making a referrence to Apple’s Steve Jobs who made a comeback after being sacked.

Lim also agreed with vice-president Mah Siew Keong’s contention that Gerakan was not a sinking ship but was currently “below the water”.

“Like what Mah said, if our boat has holes in them, we have to save ourselves…BN or others won’t save us,” he said.

On criticisms of president Koh Tsu Koon’s ‘weak’ performance, Lim said:” Like it or not, he is the democratically elected leader, we have to stand behind him. We have to support him.

“I don’t think its correct to ask a reigning president to step down… its very bad if Tsu Koon moves forward and look back and see nobody behind him,” he said.

Lim stressed that he was backing Koh not because he wants to contest in the next general election. “I repeat that I won’t be seeking a seat in the next general election.”