Straight fight for Gerakan top post

“If the government lowers the voting age to 18, we will be in trouble if we fail to reach the younger generation,” Raja Sara said.

(The Star) – It’s going to be a straight fight for the Gerakan presidency at the party polls next Saturday.

The former Barisan Nasional component party’s leadership election will see vice-president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai sparring with deputy Youth chief Andy Yong Kim Seng.

Lau and Yong were among the aspirants who registered at Gerakan headquarters during the party election nomination yesterday.

“We need to be a truly independent political party, so we welcome all policies that are good for the rakyat,” said Lau.

“Although we were defeated in the last general election, members are still enthusiastic about Gerakan,” he said.

Gerakan’s top post fell vacant after Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong resigned on Sept 16.

The party, which claims a membership of about 300,000, lost all its 11 parliamentary and 31 state seats in the May 9 election.

On June 23, Gerakan became an independent party after deciding to leave Barisan, which it had been a member of since 1973.

Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong and party vice-president A. Kohilan Pillay are running for the post of deputy president.

Eight candidates are vying for the four vice-presidential posts.

Among them is Raja Sara Petra, daughter of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Raja Sara won the Wanita deputy chief post as she was the sole candidate who registered to contest the seat.

Janice Wong became the Wanita chief as she was also the only candidate for the post.

Raja Sara hoped to represent the women as well as younger Malaysians in the party.

“If the government lowers the voting age to 18, we will be in trouble if we fail to reach the younger generation,” Raja Sara said.

Some 1,500 delegates nationwide will be voting at the party polls.