With the 15th general election called with the dissolution of the federal parliament, all political parties have swung into action in preparation to contest.

The once dominant party within the Penang electoral-scape Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia is committed to contest once again, with an aspiration to return to its former glory.

Gerakan was formed as a social issue movement in the spirit of seeking social justice and good governance.

The party pitched itself as a Malaysian multiracial party.

The founders Professor Syed Hussain Alatas, Dr. Tan Chee Khoon, Dr. J.B.A. Peter, Lim Chong Eu, Professor Wang Gungwu and V. Veerapan were a multiracial group, although the majority of electoral support came from the Chinese.

The current party leadership aims to restore the core principles to rejuvenate the party and become relevant once again to the electorate.

A long-term renewal plan based upon youth, corruption, environmental conservation, consumerism and education should be emphasized in its platform in the style Koh Tsu Koon did with the Chinese education movement.

Gerakan political bureau chief Khoon Leng Hng told the author the mission to rejuvenate Gerakan will draw on the lessons it learnt in its establishment back in 1968, in the footsteps of co-founder Dr. Lim Chong Eu in establishing strong links with youth organizations in the country.

However, there really needs to be a bottom-up momentum for change rather than just top-down aspirations.

Someone within the party must engage and inspire community groups to believe in what Gerakan wants to stand for once again.

Former glories

Gerakan was able to take the Penang state government from the MCA in 1969, winning 16 out of 24 seats.

Gerakan was independent until it joined the Alliance in 1972, which became Barisan Nasional in 1973.

Gerakan was the largest party in Penang from the late 1970s until 2008, when it suffered a dramatic defeat by the DAP.

Gerakan’s association with the Barisan Nasional cost it dearly in what was labeled an election tsunami that year.

In the 2018 election, Gerakan failed to win any state or federal seat.

The big question here is whether the Gerakan leadership is clinging to nostalgia, or has real value propositions that voters can develop any empathy for.

What are Gerakan’s chances of revival?

Success for Gerakan will depend upon its ability to convince the public that it would become an honest broker in parliament.

Support for Gerakan is currently negligible in the coming election, with both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan seeking domination.

First, Gerakan is in a catch 22 situation. Any alliance with PAS and the wider PN may work against its independent stance.

However, without coupling into any alliance would leave Gerakan as a minor splinter party.

Gerakan will have to work within the seats it is allocated by the alliance, centered in Penang and Perak.

Second, Gerakan has worked very hard to obtain and endorse good candidates for the coming election. This has been a tireless effort.

We will have to see the final list Gerakan comes out with and whether the candidates have any strong local attachments with the seats they contest. This will be very important in this election.

Third, Gerakan will come up against a reinvigorated MCA with the resources of the BN behind it.

The MCA will be expected to pick up a number of new seats this election, riding on the popularity of the BN.

The local caliber of candidates will be of utmost importance due to this factor.

Gerakan will have to persuade voters to vote for the best candidate, the candidate who will best serve their interests.

Four, due to an electoral perception of DAP arrogance and rumblings of corruption in Penang, coupled with poor DAP support in Sarawak, Melaka and Johor state elections, there is some opportunity to make some erosions into the now DAP stronghold of Penang.

Given there may only be a federal election in Penang, Gerakan may be best to focus on Balik Pulau, as all DAP seats are almost unwinnable unless voters decide to abandon the party.

Optimistically, Gerakan can think about its state win against the MCA back in 1968.

Seats like Bukit Bendera, Tanjong, Jelutong, Bukit Gelugor, and Lim Guan Eng’s seat of Bagan might have some surprises.

Finally, it will all be about the narrative. Gerakan will have to espouse a narrative that will gain the inspiration of voters.

It could be about corruption and abuse of power and the need to have an honest broker in parliament as a watchdog.

In tandem, it could be about local issues within each seat. This election will be very much about the art of differentiation.

GE15 may just be a very volatile election with some surprises. Gerakan will have to get voters out on the day. That will make a difference.

GE15 will be the most highly contested general election ever in Malaysia. A poor showing by the DAP in the federal seats they hold will open up possibilities for Gerakan in the coming state election next year.

(Murray Hunter has been involved in Asia-Pacific business for the last 40 years as an entrepreneur, consultant, academic and researcher. He was an associate professor at Universiti Malaysia Perlis.)