The Malaysian Insight

GERAKAN aims to be a third force in the Tanjung Piai by-election by banking on its scandal-free image, said candidate and deputy secretary-general Wendy Subramaniam.

She added that the former Barisan Nasional party is not a “rubbish bin”, as some have dubbed it, for voters who plan to shun the former ruling pact and Pakatan Harapan.

Those unsupportive of BN but disillusioned with PH should give Gerakan a new lease of life and help rebuild the party as a genuine third option, the 38-year-old UK-trained lawyer told The Malaysian Insight.

“Gerakan is the third force in the fight between PH and BN. The people have the power to choose. We are not a rubbish bin.

“Those who are dissatisfied with both PH and BN will be able to vote for a third party, and we are waiting to make history,” she said, adding that being able to offer voters a third choice is worth the possibility of losing her deposit.

“Contesting was not a spur-of-the-moment decision for me. I analysed and thought about it hard, and agreed to contest because I know the party’s image is clean, without scandals dogging it.

“I also intend to stay on in the party and serve the people through it.”

Subramaniam said she is also motivated by her 5-year-old daughter, who, despite her young age, had asked her mother what it meant to represent other people.

“My daughter asked me one day if the people really do have a voice. I replied that I hope we do.

“I feel that I need to do my part for our children’s future. So, when the party chairman asked for my opinion, I said I was ready to accept this challenge.”

She does not think of Gerakan as an underdog, even if the front-runners are PH and BN in a six-horse race that also features two independents and one from Islamist party Berjasa.

“The reception hasn’t been bad. Since Gerakan announced it was contesting and that I am the candidate, I have been on the ground, and many people know who I am.”

The Johor Baru native said her focus for Tg Piai, if elected, is enhancing its tourism industry and upgrading its healthcare infrastructure.

“There is no general hospital in Tg Piai, so any serious or sudden cases of disease and illness have to be referred to Johor Baru.

“This is a geographical issue, and the local population is also ageing. I hope I will be able to improve the local medical infrastructure and give the elderly quality healthcare.

“The roads here are also of poor quality; there are many potholes, and accidents are common.”

On developing tourism, Subramaniam said there are local spots and food that have yet to be promoted well to the rest of Malaysia.

She acknowledged her lack of campaign and governance experience compared with the PH and BN candidates, but said her youth is actually an advantage.

While she has been interested in politics for 12 years, she said she did not actively paticipate in politics until 2017.

Gerakan contested 11 parliamentary and 31 state seats in the 14th general election last year, without success.

In June last year, the party quit BN, which it had been part of since the late 1960s.

Gerakan had consistently promoted itself as a multiracial BN component and sought to carve out a name for itself as the former ruling coalition’s “conscience”.

Had Gerakan remained in BN, said Subramaniam, she would not have supported it.

“I would not have been able to accept it if Gerakan stayed in BN.”

She is campaigning with the support of her family, with her husband driving her to campaign stops around Tg Piai.

However, she said, her parents are worried that she will become a victim of cyberbullying.

“Whenever they see online comments against me, they get angry. I tell them to ignore the comments and keep calm. I am more concerned about children being bullied online.

“I also do not like personal attacks, so I will not respond in kind, as it is very immature.” – November 7, 2019.