In an unusual move, Gerakan Youth chief Mah Siew Kong today called for the merger of all 14 parties in the ruling BN coalition in order to achieve national unity.

"The time has now come for us to be one single party, the BN Party," he said in his opening speech at the Youth wing's annual meeting which started today at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

His proposal received a thunderous support from his party members. Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also the BN Youth chief, was seen nodding at Mah's suggestion but did not clap along with the crowd.

"The creation of one party from a coalition of all component parties would need much effort, commitment and cooperation from everyone," added Mah.

"Discussions too are needed to be done and can take some years but Gerakan Youth believe that after 50 years of independence, we have to take the first step to unite all 14 component parties to become one," he said.

Mah also took a swipe at the opposition parties, claiming that they would twist and exploit current issues to win votes.

"The opposition will seek victory without considering the nation's interest by playing up racial issues and religious sentiments," he said.

He said that the DAP would be playing the Chinese sentiments while PAS would be evoking the Malay sentiments in the run-up to the general election. PKR, he charged, would be playing the sentiments of both the races just to win some votes.

Mah also touched on the rampant corruption epidemic which is plaguing the nation today.

"We still face the problems on bureaucracy inefficiency, 'little Napoleans' and corruption. We know there are officials who are corrupt. Until today, how many of them have been dismissed?"

"The government need to take firm action against these bad apples... we have to show them that enough is enough and we mean business," he said.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mah said his suggestion was not to imply that current ties among BN component parties were not good enough.

"Someone has to take the first step. A great number of issues have been turned racial lately," he said.

Listen to grouses

Meanwhile, Gerakan Wanita head Tan Lian Hoe, in her opening remark to her delegates, said the government should allow for a proper and free platform for the people to air their grievances, however sensitive the issues might be.

"It is only right that the government listen to their grouses. The government should be more open and transparent in dealing with issues affecting the rakyat, especially when they involve sensitive issues," she said.

She added that the government should exercise "maturity, prudence as well as great responsibility" in searching for acceptable solutions to problems of sensitive nature.

"Unless we address these sensitive issues head on in an open and transparent manner, the seeds of dissatisfaction and the conflict among our grassroots will continue to spread," she warned.

"The people are worried about their future and that of their children and grandchildren in 50, 100, 500 or 1,000 years from now.

"Their fear and worries stem from the direction that the country is heading to since the independence.

"There is the question of diminishing integrity, the issue of meritocracy, excessive focus on Islamic issues, weaknesses in public administration, the abuse of power by those in authority, judicial integrity, security and others," she added in her hard-hitting speech.

She said that everyone should stop exploiting sensitive issues that hurt others as political tools to gain support.

"We must learn to live in harmony according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, Rukun Negara and the 2020 vision."

She also touched on the alarming crime rate in the country, urging the government to carry out a comprehensive study to identify the sources of the problem and address them appropriately.

"We must remember failure to secure the safety in our own country will spell disaster."