Gerakan foundation really helps people, unlike Zahid's - Dominic Lau
Gerakan president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai has thrown a shade at Umno's Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the latter's ongoing court case.
In his speech at his party assembly this morning, Lau was walking through Gerakan past successes when he mentioned a foundation the party had set up and made a sarcastic remark about Zahid in passing.
"Besides having Wawasan Open University, Gerakan also has...
Gerakan president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai has thrown a shade at Umno's Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the latter's ongoing court case.
In his speech at his party assembly this morning, Lau was walking through Gerakan past successes when he mentioned a foundation the party had set up and made a sarcastic remark about Zahid in passing.
"Besides having Wawasan Open University, Gerakan also has a foundation that was set up by (our former president) Mah Siew Keong called YPPKM (1Malaysia Hawker & Small Business Foundation).
"I remember that Mah had set up this foundation when he was a cabinet minister to help hawkers and small business operators. Let's give a round of applause to Mah.
"But I want to say that this foundation is nothing like Zahid's. It's different. Through this foundation, we really helped the small businesses in our country," Lau told his party delegates.
It was understood that Lau was referring to Yayasan Akal Budi, a foundation linked to Zahid.
The Umno president is facing a string of criminal charges that involve a criminal breach of trust of RM20.83 million, receiving RM21.25 million in gratification as home minister, and money laundering of RM72.07 million.
Lau was delivering his speech at Gerakan's 50th Annual General Meeting held at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The event was launched by Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.
In his address to delegates, Lau also reminded them of the importance of Gerakan securing the people's mandate again in the next general election.
He said there is no use in the party being a political organisation if it does not have representatives in the Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
"We must win the election and get the mandate to enter Parliament and state assemblies.
"If we still fail to get this, we would become just like the NGOs outside, which can only voice out their concern outside but cannot represent the people inside the Parliament and state assemblies," he said.
In order to score in the next election, Lau stressed, the party needs to focus on getting the support of young voters.
He said the Undi18 that starts next year would see a significant number of young people becoming eligible voters in each constituency.
"This is a large group in which we must get their support.
"Our party central committee had conducted an analysis, and it was found that generally, each constituency would see about 20,000 young voters. Some even up to 80,000 of them.
"Thus, we must employ new methods to prepare for this election," he said, adding that the party would shift its focus from traditional campaign methods to digital to woo the younger group.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.