Penang Gerakan S Push For Own Logo An Attempt To Leave Pn S Shadow Says Analyst

---

Awang Azman Awang Pawi says the move is also an attempt by Gerakan to remain relevant.
Analysts said that Penang Gerakan’s hope of using its own logo in the next general election may restore pride but is unlikely to increase its vote share.PETALING JAYA: Penang Gerakan’s hope of using its own logo in the state at the next general election (GE16) appears to be an attempt to break free from PAS’s shadow and appeal to non-Malay voters, says a political analyst
Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the move was also about positioning Gerakan as a non-Malay alternative within Perikatan Nasional (PN), particularly in Penang where Chinese and Indian voters are the dominant groups.
“This is an attempt to remain relevant and not to appear merely as PAS’s follower,” he told FMT.
“But the question is: will non-Malay voters return to Gerakan? Current sentiment still favours DAP, which is more trusted by Chinese voters and seen as offering greater political stability.”
Awang said Gerakan risked a crushing defeat if it went solo, noting its poor record in GE15 and the recent state polls where it won only a single state seat in Kedah and none in Penang.
He said Penang’s political landscape was already dominated by DAP and Pakatan Harapan.
“This shows its decline in Penang, compared with its glory days when it led the state government from 1969 to 2008.
“Using its own logo may give Gerakan a bit of pride, but it won’t necessarily translate into votes,” he said.
He also warned that the move risked sparking friction in PN if other component parties demanded the same.
Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong had floated the idea of using the party’s logo in GE16 during the state chapter’s annual general meeting on Sunday.
Oh reportedly said he had asked the party’s central committee to consider raising the matter with the PN Supreme Council, claiming that many in Penang still mistakenly believed that Gerakan was part of Barisan Nasional.
Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said Gerakan still needed PN’s platform to improve its chances.
“Gerakan wants to create the perception that it has the political strength to stand on its own without being tied to other parties’ shadows.
“But the current scenario is different. It needs a substantive platform if it wants a stronger record in the next election,” he said. - FMT

---