Gerakan says convinced of PN’s moderation as it joins ruling coalition

Former Barisan Nasional (BN) component Gerakan has joined Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying it is committed to working with the ruling coalition to achieve development and moderation.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said he was convinced through a series of discussions with leaders from Bersatu and PAS of their agenda centred on the people’s welfare.

“This has been shown through the various economic stimulus packages announced by the prime minister. Billions of ringgit have been injected to help the people in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lau said.

PN, comprising Bersatu, PAS and several Sabah and Sarawak parties, was formed in February last year, bringing together political parties which had lent their support to Muhyiddin Yassin to form the government following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Umno and Gabungan Parti Sarawak are not members of the coalition although they have expressed their support for the PN government.

Lau meanwhile said the current political setting differed from before 2018 general election.

“There have been too many changes and too many disruptions.”

He said there is a need for politicians to embrace unity and ignore the pursuit of positions and titles to rebuild the economy.

“Gerakan pledges to always represent the people in all matters, to push for moderation and to ensure PN becomes the new political voice of Malaysia.”

Gerakan, founded as an opposition party in 1968, lost all of the seats it contested in the 2018 polls.

The party is among the BN partners which quit the coalition following its fall from federal power.