Emergence Of Two Multi-party Coalitions Good, Says Koh

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama)

The emergence of two multi-party coalitions resulting from the March 8 general election is good for the country as it paves the way for good governance.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this Friday night when addressing some 200 people at the party's "White Coffee Talk" at its Selangor headquarters here.

He said the people had made their choice and there should not be any sabotage to the governments run by Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance).

"It is more healthy and we (Barisan Nasional - BN) can do better then. That's why we opposed the move to sabotage the ruling Pakatan Rakyat Perak government which only won majority by three seats compared to BN.

"I must say that BN is not afraid of competition. Let them (Pakatan Rakyat) govern and prove themselves in the five states they won. I challenge them to do so. At the same time we must prove that we will also perform as a good opposition in the states," he said.

Dr Koh said that in the meantime, BN should go back to the basics and refer to the BN constitution that now was drifted away by Umno dominance and strong man politics.

"It's good that (this leader) had Vision 2020, the Multimedia Super Corridor but the negative side is that it ended up as strong man politics," he said.

On Gerakan, he said the party had contributed so much as well as making impacts, good will, well respected and had good track record and experience since its inception in 1968 but was perceived as weak and timid.

He said that therefore, Gerakan should move forward to be more people-friendly and policy-oriented and at the same time instil and articulate more clearly the party's stand on issues and its ideologies.

"Gerakan is there for the future. With winning only two parliamentary seats and four state seats, we're down but not out. At this point of time we consider the problems faced as challenging but this would distinguish man from boys," he said.

He said Gerakan would push for effectiveness within BN and the federal government.

On reforms initiated by the government in the judiciary, the move to make the Anti-Corruption Agency independent and amend the Internal Security Act and media freedom, he said there were some improvements but still slow.