Kepong: It's do-or-die for Gerakan

The March 8 general election is the ultimate test of survival and relevance for Gerakan in Kepong as its division youth chief Lau Hoi Keong faces off against DAP ‘giant’ Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

Even ‘die-hard’ Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters, from the grassroots up to the division level, said this may be the last time Gerakan gets their support in trying to wrest the seat - for several decades an opposition stronghold - from the six-term MP Tan.

If Gerakan loses again this time around, the Kepong Umno division will lobby the BN leadership to drop Gerakan - as the coalition’s representative in the constituency - in favour of MCA.

"If Lau wins, of course there will be no need, but we’ll see. If they lose this time, we will ask for that change," warned Kepong Umno chief Rizuan Abdul Hamid.

Rizuan said the same thing in September 2006, reportedly citing Gerakan candidate Ma Woei Chyi’s losses to Tan in 1999 and 2004 and the party’s losses over the past several general elections.

Rizuan also said Gerakan was weak in the constituency in that it had only 15 branches consisting of a few thousand members as compared to MCA’s 22 branches with a membership of over 10,000.

Lau a local boy

Comments such as Rizuan’s would weigh heavy on the minds of leaders of Gerakan which yesterday announced Lau - who had worked as Ma’s assistant in the past - as their candidate for Kepong.

What may have pushed them into deciding on first-timer Lau instead of two-term Segambut MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong - whom many had earlier speculated would contest against Seng Giaw - was the edge the former enjoyed as a ‘local boy’.

That as well as Lau’s track record as having worked hard tackling problems faced by urban settlers and other local problems would work in his favour, said Rizuan.

"While saying Lau will definitely topple the ‘giant’ Tan Seng Giaw may not be correct, at least there is now a chance," he said.

Echoing Rizuan, one Umno member based in Taman Permata Fadason said there was no chance for either Gerakan or MCA to tackle the predominantly Chinese seat unless their candidate was a face familiar to the voters.

"You look at Tan Seng Giaw. He visits every place regularly at least once a week and speaks to the people and asks about their problems. Neither Gerakan nor MCA have done that in the past," said the 20-year resident of Kepong who declined to be named.

The improvements to infrastructure, drainage and housing and the influx of banks and hypermarkets only took place over the past four to five years, he said. Even these were not due to the BN, he added.

"I think even Umno has worked harder than them here. Unfortunately, we can have very little impact because we can only reach out to Malays who make up less than four percent of the population," he added.

Corroborating his view, labourer Ng Sin said while Tan cannot bring in much development to Kepong as he does not belong to the government, Gerakan and MCA have not done their part.

"As much as we know that Tan cannot do anything, we’ve also seen how MCA and Gerakan have done nothing for us here," he told Malaysiakini.

Another resident who described herself as a "die-hard BN supporter", Sadarah Ibrahim, initially proudly spoke of how she has "always" voted for her coalition.

Dr Tan: I'm ready

The lacklustre effort of Gerakan and MCA in Kepong, however, was making even her consider seriously about her vote this time.

"We see him every week or so. He comes by and listens to our complaints: about the need to get the streets, drains and street lamps fixed. He did get them fixed," she said hesitantly.

"I don’t know... This time... maybe I’ll look more closely at the candidates... Tan is a good man," she added quietly.

When contacted, however, Lau sounded confident of winning the Kepong seat despite being rookie in elections and identifying the seat as a "black area".

"I have full confidence in the machinery and we know the people’s problems. The voters will know when the time comes who would make a better ‘ wakil rakyat ’," he said.

Quizzed about Kepong Umno’s displeasure of Gerakan’s performance, the University Malaya graduate denied knowledge and said the component parties have worked together for a long time.

"We are all concerned about winning this seat and we need the support from non-Chinese voters," he said.

Lau said he would focus on other issues such as crime, infrastructure, Chinese schools, drainage problem and the environment.

When met, Tan said he was ready to contest against anybody.

"Whoever it is, let them come. I’m ready," said the DAP deputy national chairperson.