Raja Petra’s daughter joins Gerakan

(Seated from left to right): Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Raja Sara and Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Raja Sara Petra, the daughter of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, has joined Gerakan and will oversee the party's plans to be part of the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) initiative.

Raja Sara, 29, announced her induction to the political party at a Hari Raya Aildilfitri open house organised by Gerakan at the Penyayang Bakti complex in Bandar Sri Damansara on Saturday.

She said she hoped to inspire youths to come out and do something for the country.

"Many youths have been complaining on social media like Facebook that they are unhappy with the situation in Malaysia. Yet, we have seven million people who are eligible to vote, but still don't.

"You love your country, so this is the time (to show it). It only takes an hour to come out and vote," Raja Sara said.

She explained that she had been with Gerakan for less than a year.

"It's a multiracial party, and I believe in a multiracial Malaysia," she said, when asked why she decided to join the party.

Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said he has assigned Raja Sara to take charge of his party’s contribution to the TN50 initiative.

"We in Gerakan are very proactive and we work very hard. We are formulating a plan to be part of TN50.

"We encourage more youths like Raja Sara to join our party. We want young people who are open minded and represent the 'Bangsa Malaysia' ideology to contribute to our party.

"The youths will definitely bring more ideas to TN50," he said.

Raja Sara said she is still engaged in discussions with party leaders and Wanita Gerakan to chart a roadmap to TN50.

"So far nothing has been set yet since I'm still very new to the party," she said when asked if she would be holding any post in Gerakan.

Mah also imparted some words of advice to Raja Sara.

"Politics is not easy, but if we are here to serve the people and make the country better, it will be very fulfilling.

"Gerakan is a good party to achieve these objectives," he said.