KUALA LUMPUR: Politicians and analysts agree that the Barisan Nasional decision yesterday to approve ‘associate’ and ‘affiliate’membership would make the coalition more inclusive.
WAITING FOR THE BOSS: MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek (left) chats with SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, Koh (right) and MCA secretary general Datuk Seri Kong Chong Ha (second left) while waiting for Najib to chair the BN supreme council meeting at Menara Datuk Onn Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo
The direct membership which the Barisan supreme council allowed would also serve as a new platform for youths to get a feel of politics, LDP president Datuk VK Liew said.
The approval came with certain guidelines which the Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would explain in full in due course, he added.
“What is important is that all the component parties agreed to it to make BN more inclusive,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
One condition already spelled out is that anyone wishing to be an associate or affiliate member must not belong to any party, Liew said.
Another condition is that only a member of a component party can be a Barisan candidate in an election.
“It’s more like a stop gap, for them (the direct members) to touch the political heart beat. Probably after two or three years, if they feel that politics is the way for them, or they want to become candidates (in an election), they will join a component party,” he said.
Direct membership was proposed by Najib in February this year, after which a committee was formed to study the pros and cons chaired by Umno vicepresident Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. Political observers recalled that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad allowed two candidates without a party to stand under the Barisan banner in the 1990s. Both won — Datuk Billy Abit Joo in Hulu Rejang and Datuk Joseph Salang in Julau.
Political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said that direct membership would allow BN to reach out to more people, particularly youths, who like BN but have some reservations about joining any of the component parties.
“Barisan is on the right path to attract more members. The uniqueness of direct membership can attract more youths, especially those who registered as voters after the 2008 General Election, Sivamurugan said.
“Just look at Kelab Penyokong Pas (Pas Supporters Club). They have easily captured 20,000 members — all of them non-Muslims,” he said.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that in principle the party supported the admission into BN of NGOs as associate members and individuals as affiliate members in line with the inclusive spirit of 1Malaysia.
“We view this as a positive initiative and a step forward to attract more talent and support for BN to become even more effective to serve the people of Malaysia and move forward together to achieve Vision 2020,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
Koh said Gerakan also supported the new move with the understanding that rules and regulations on the rights, roles and responsibilities of these two new membership categories will soon be deliberated by the Barisan Supreme Council. — Bernama