Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia will "in no way" join the opposition even if it pulls out of the Barisan Nasional (BN), Selangor Gerakan chief and Central Committee Member A. Kohilan Pillay said Sunday.
He said Gerakan was looking at all possibilities, including becoming an independent entity, but stressed that the party would not join the Pakatan Rakyat.
Whatever decision the party leadership made, it must be acceptable to the grassroots in unison, he said.
"This matter concerns our status and future and it would be dealt with in depth. We don't want to become another SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party) or MDP (Malaysian Democratic Party, a splinter of the DAP), where a crucial decision had caused a split in the party," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Gerakan national delegates conference, here.
After suffering a massive defeat in the March 8 general election, Gerakan saw many of its members quit or defect to the opposition, and this put tremendous pressure on the leadership to take drastic action for the betterment of the party.
Kohilan Pillay said the issue would not hamper the party's efforts at revitalisation.
"Those who quit were disappointed as they could not fulfill their personal agenda in the party. But now the ground sentiment on Gerakan is improving and I believe we are doing the right thing and heading in the right direction," he said.
-- BERNAMA
