Racist and aloof; a Gerakan delegate has lamented that Umno’s ‘low-class ministers’ have led BN to become the laughing stock of the country.

Tanjong Gerakan division delegate Loo Jieh Sheng ( photo ) said that each year, various Umno division leaders would regularly become the talk of the country through their racist and extreme remarks.

He said the people have also associated groups and personalities like Mohd Ali Baharom, Perkasa, and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) with the coalition, leading to more ridicule.

“Basically people brand all of them as Umno and BN people, and unfortunately people whack us upside down because we are from the same camp […]

“And our prime minister has so many reasons, be it reasonable or not, why the annual racist festival cannot be stopped. The Malaysian political updates looks more interesting than the drama series in Astro Wah Lai Toi.

“However and unfortunately, we are the laughing stock in the eyes of people. I think some Umno ministers are living in their own world.

“I’m sorry but I call them the low-class ministers. These ministers and division leaders can still win their Parliament seat due to some demographic factors, " he said at the Gerakan National Delegates’ Conference in Shah Alam today.

He said this when debating the party president’s policy speech.

Those targeted in Loo’s speech include Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman ( photo ), Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Mohd Yunos, among others.

The Air Itam state assembly seat former election candidate said he had also asked many people on the street to name any ministers who have impressed them, but many simply struggled to do so.

However, he said it is not because BN ministers have not contributed to the country, but instead it is because people have a poor impression of the coalition.

Not on warpath

He also clarified that he is not on a warpath against Umno, and has in fact been advising Penang Umno on how to handle the DAP-led state government in the state assembly.

However, Loo expressed concern that Gerakan’s association with Umno could mean its downfall, as it becomes tarred with the same brush as its coalition partner.

He said although Gerakan has espoused multi-racial politics, Umno could not follow suit due to political reasons.

While he believes that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( photo ) is a moderate but with ‘his hands tied’, he said, the voters will not be as considerate.

He said the party has to be more proactive in finding solutions to the people’s woes, even if it is just ‘one strong solution’ to convince them to vote for Gerakan.

He added that in the current political climate, a multi-racial party like Gerakan can shine by being vocal against both Umno and DAP.