Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said with support for the former Barisan Nasional affiliate dwindling, Gerakan’s performance in tomorrow’s state elections rests entirely on its association with the two dominant parties in PN.
“Gerakan is a token non-Malay representation in PN. It can only win Malay-majority seats by virtue of its affiliation with PAS and Bersatu. One example is the Bayan Lepas seat contested by Dominic Lau, which is Malay-majority,” Azmil said.
Yet, Gerakan’s relationship with the two dominant Malay parties in the coalition is strained, as reflected by video footage of party president Lau being denied entry to a PN event in Sungai Dua, Penang.
Although Lau attempted to brush off the incident, many believe the episode to be a reflection of the Islamist party’s proclivity to ride roughshod over Gerakan and non-Malays.
In response to the incident, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said the party’s assemblymen would threaten to step down if, having won at the state election, PN moves to practise extremist politics.
Last week, Penang Pakatan Harapan chief Chow Kon Yeow called for Gerakan to withdraw from the coalition to “protest against PAS’s extremism”.
Azmil said Gerakan should step aside due to its lack of standing in the coalition. He said the party would derive more credibility by running alone.
“It is obvious that Gerakan is a junior member in PN and it does not play much of a role in determining PN’s agenda. It does not have the capacity to keep PAS and Bersatu in check when it comes to their extreme agenda.
“Gerakan is much better off contesting on its own as a third force,” he said.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Gerakan is facing the same fate that has befallen MCA and MIC in BN.
“What Gerakan is facing today is the same problem MCA and MIC faced a decade ago. Umno’s dominance made MCA and MIC so irrelevant that their supporters migrated towards PH or, more precisely, towards DAP.
“(Gerakan’s presence) is so negligible because PAS is so dominant,” he said.
Despite Gerakan’s lack of stature in PN, Bersatu and PAS appear to be playing up the party’s significance in the Penang state election by fielding Lau in the predominantly Malay Bayan Lepas constituency.
“I think PN is trying to demonstrate that Gerakan is a party of equal footing either with Bersatu or PAS,” Azmi said.
“I think they are hoping that at least Lau will win and, theoretically, he should win if PAS goes all-out in supporting him.”