How a party founded on non-communal ideals became a pillar of Malaysian state power

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 1968 as a multi-ethnic alternative to existing political structures, Gerakan quickly captured Penang and held it for nearly four decades. Despite its original vision of a non-communal Malaysia, the party eventually became defined by its ethnic Chinese base and its complex, shifting alliances within national ruling coalitions.

Gerakan was established in 1968 by six founders, including Lim Chong Eu, Syed Hussein Alatas, and Tan Chee Khoon, following Lim's resignation from the Malaysian Chinese Association. The party positioned itself as a non-communal, Malaysian-centric movement. Its breakthrough came in the 1969 general election, where it defeated the ruling Alliance Party in Penang, securing 16 of 24 state seats and installing Lim Chong Eu as Chief Minister. This victory made Gerakan one of the few parties outside the Alliance to govern a state.

The party's trajectory shifted significantly in 1972 when it joined the Alliance, which later became the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. This move caused internal friction, leading to the departure of several founding members who formed the short-lived PEKEMAS party. Consequently, Gerakan's membership became predominantly ethnic Chinese, who eventually constituted 80% of its ranks. Despite this demographic shift, the party maintained a dominant role in Penang until 2008, with Lim Chong Eu and his successor, Koh Tsu Koon, serving as the only two Chief Ministers during that 39-year period.

The 2008 general election marked a turning point, as Gerakan suffered a historic defeat, losing its power in Penang and its sole cabinet post. The party struggled to regain its footing in subsequent years, failing to win any parliamentary seats in 2018. After leaving BN, Gerakan joined the Perikatan Nasional coalition in 2021. While it remained without national representation for years, it achieved a modest electoral breakthrough in the 2023 Kedah state election, marking its first victory since 2014.

Throughout its history, Gerakan navigated intense competition with the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) for influence within the ruling coalition. This rivalry included periods of mass defections, such as in 1981, when 120,000 dissident MCA members joined Gerakan. Today, the party continues to operate as a junior partner within its coalition, reflecting a long evolution from its origins as a bold, independent political challenger to a participant in the shifting landscape of Malaysian governance.

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