PETALING JAYA (Sept 28, 2008): Saying they have no more faith in their party and Barisan Nasional, about 20 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Gerakan leaders and members joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) today.
The group was led by former Gerakan FT information bureau head K.K. Gan and Setiawangsa branch chairman Li Tiam Chai and also consisted of former members of the Bukit Bintang, Kepong and Wangsa Maju branches.
They announced their decision to join PKR in the presence of PKR vice president R. Sivarasa, information chief and Batu MP Tian Chua, and Ampang MP and PKR wanita head Zuraida Kamaruddin at the PKR headquarters at Merchant Square in Damansara.
Gan, a Gerakan member for 24 years, said there was no future for a multi-racial party like Gerakan in BN.
"Former Gerakan president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik had said soon after the general election in March that Gerakan is like a beggar and if it stayed on in BN, it will be finished," he said.
"Current (acting) president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon says we must stay on in BN to change Umno, but will Umno really change?"
He claimed that 80% of the Gerakan grassroots wantd change in the party and at least 300 more members were expected to join PKR soon.
Tian Chua, who welcomed the former Gerakan members, said their membership would help strengthen PKR.
Sivarasa said it was not an easy decision for the Gerakan members to cross over to PKR after serving the party for decades but they chose to do so in the best interest of the country.
"We had not offered them money or posts but they joined us as they see there is no area for change in Umno or BN," he said.
Former Gerakan FT chief and Segambut MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who joined PKR about a month ago, was present .
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