AUG 11 — It has been quite some time since we last heard about Kerk Kim Hock.
When his name was mentioned again in the media lately, it was nevertheless nothing exciting. He suffers from a relapse of rectal cancer.
Again the DAP warrior embarks on his cancer-fighting journey.
Politics-wise, Kerk has never given the public an impression of a tough warrior, at least not that raucous type shouting aggressive slogans in elevated spirit.
His political posture is more of that of a dignified gentleman.
The secretary-general of DAP from 1999 to 2004, Kerk was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2002, and he subsequently announced to quit politics in 2004, at a time his political career was at its prime.
Compared to other opposition leaders, Kerk lacks the charisma of a commander nor exceptional charms that will bring the masses to him. To make things worse, his tenure was sandwiched between those of the Lim father-and-son team.
Both his predecessor and successor are known as combat-type leaders with exceptional eloquence and wits, which Kerk pales by comparison. Somehow he is no Lim Kit Siang nor his son Lim Guan Eng.
And somehow, the Malaysian politics still needs someone like him, one who will never act like a daring vanguard nor deliberately attack his opponents.
He spoke according to facts in defense of the interests of the people in the Parliament, and was insistent in his pursuit until the problems were resolved while himself winning the respect of his rivals.
In an unprecedented move, he was appointed a member of the National Unity Advisory Panel by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in September 2004 in a show of recognition transcending political division.
In this age of boisterous politics, we simply have too many who would rush to the battlefront, shouting and yelling. As a consequence, politics in Malaysia has been reduced into a bloody war zone teeming with insane outbursts and violent conflicts, as political polarization gains in momentum.
Our politicians today are busy whitewashing their own camps and deifying their leaders while emphatically demonizing their rivals. In the midst of all the insanities, Kerk’s moderate and pragmatic approach comes as particularly precious.
Not all politicians must become heroes. They only need to discharge their duties conscientiously, be themselves, and be answerable to the public.
Now that his political journey has come to a conclusion, Kerk is now facing yet another rigorous challenge in life. May we pray that he will eventually overcome his illness and carry on with his uncompleted tasks in life.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
