Zahid’s court case will affect BN’s rebranding, says Gerakan sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR: Any efforts to restructure and rebrand Barisan Nasional will be thwarted as its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is facing a court case.
Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng said Zahid’s court case would affect Barisan Nasional’s efforts to convince the people of the new brand.
“It is clear that the allegations faced by the BN chairman will have an impact on the coalition’s rebranding efforts,” he told a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters in Pudu yesterday.
Present was its deputy president Datuk Asharuddin Ahmad.
Last Saturday, Zahid, when opening the MIC Annual General Meeting, said BN would be restructured and rebranded to reinforce the coalition in its bid to win the next general election.
The restructuring and rebranding exercise would involve five BN component parties, party partners in the opposition and non-governmental organisations.
The efforts, he said, would be led by its secretary-general, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, who is also Padang Rengas member of parliament.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, recently faced 45 counts of corruption and criminal breach of trust.
Liang said Gerakan would not rejoin or align itself with BN despite its restructuring and rebranding exercise.
“After BN’s defeat in GE14, it held a meeting where party restructuring and rebranding ideas were mooted.
“Here we are, six months later and nothing has been done.
“I think people today want to see action, not just words.
“Perhaps the BN chairman is still new, but if he wants to exact changes to the coalition, he needs to know that people want to see a party that is transparent, clean and efficient.”