Ketuanan Melayu could be misinterpreted: Koh

Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN (Nov 30, 2008): The term 'ketuanan Melayu' (Malay supremacy) could be misinterpreted and the right terminology to be used should be from the Federal Constitution, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said today.

Commenting on Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's statement last Thursday that the ketuanan Melayu concept is no longer relevant, Koh said the appropriate words to use are "special position of the Malays and bumiputras" as written in the constitution.

"I am unsure of the effects of using a word that is not in the constitution as it can bring about a different meaning and it could be misinterpreted," he said.

He said the word 'ketuanan' may give rise to the interpretation that there's a 'tuan' (master) and a 'hamba' (slave).

"So, the proper terminology to be used should be from the constitution where it is stated that all the citizens' rights are protected," he said.

Koh said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution provided for the special position of the Malays and bumiputras and also the legitimate interests of all the other communities.

"The Federal Constitution should form the basis for all this, so there is no need to argue over it," he said at a press conference after delivering his opening address at the Gerakan Lifelong Members' annual general meeting"There is no point continuing to argue over the use of this terminology if we all refer to the constitution.

He said the interests and rights of all Malaysians must be prioritised because of the global economic crisis.

Earlier, in his speech, Koh said the poverty lines must be revised very six months because of the economic slowdown.

"We need to focus on the poverty-stricken as a lot of people are getting poorer. For example, the poverty line of two years ago may not be relevant now anymore," he said.

Koh said the way to help the poverty-stricken is to retrain them and look at more opportunities for them instead of only giving them money.

On Gerakan, Koh said the central committee held its second meeting on Saturday, during which Datuk Lim Kheng Guan and Dr Asharuddin Ahmad were sworn in as the two appointed central committee members, and Datuk Gooi Hoe Kin as the deputy dpeaker of the National Delegates Conference.

Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and central committee member Kohilan Pillay was appointed a vice-president to fill the vacancy left by the late Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam.

The central bureaus were revamped to cover wider areas of responsibility. The central legal bureau has been redesignated the central bureau on human rights and law, and the publicity bureau is now known as the publicity, information and communications bureau.

The newly-created bureaus are the legislature liasion bureau, government administrative affairs bureau, environment, safety and quality of life bureau, and public health and social development bureau.

Former secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, who was appointed a vice-president, was reappointed to head the central training bureau, which has been renamed the central training and forums bureau.

On the Life Member Council, former party former president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was elected uncontested as the chairman to the party immovable property committee. The two other members elected to the committee are Chua Chong An and Lim Heng Tee.

Six life members elected to the central committee are Lum Weng Keong, Dr Chee See Choke, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Dr Lim Thuang Seng, Yeoh Chip Tong and Khoo Soo Chai.

Gerakan veep Dr S. Vijayaratnam found dead (Update 4)

By SARBAN SINGH and LESTER KONG

SEREMBAN: Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam died in what is believed to be a freak accident after he fell from the rooftop of his four-storey shoplot along Jalan Tuanku Hassan.

Dr Vijayaratnam, whose clinic is located at the ground floor, had apparently gone to the rooftop to inspect a leak when he slipped and fell to his death.

The 58-year-old former Plantations and Commodities parliamentary secretary was checking the building, known as Vijaya Mahal, as some parties had expressed their interest to rent the second floor.

Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam.

State police chief SAC II Datuk Osman Salleh said since Dr Vijayaratnam was not seeing any patients for the day, he decided to go up to look at the condition of the top floor.

“His nurse told us that he would go to the higher floors regularly. He came in at about 11am and took the keys for the top floors from the female employee,” he said.

The first floor is rented by a law firm while the second and third floors are rented by a company which provides computer classes.

Osman said police have classifed the case as sudden death.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that he may have slipped from the rooftop. There is nothing to indicate the involvement of a third party to suggest that he had committed suicide,” he said.

A police forensics team was also brought in to look for clues.

Osman said a set of keys to the upper floors was also found beside the deceased’s body.

“At this point in time, we do not think this is politically motivated ... he has no political enemies,” he said.

Osman said Dr Vijayaratnam was still alive after the fall but succumbed to his injuries a short while later. He suffered massive head injuries.

His brother Jothiratnam 49, said he last spoke with the deceased on Oct 23 before leaving for Rome.

“He was his usual jovial self ... this is shocking,” said Jothi, a freelance lecturer.

Jothi, who returned last night, said his brother did not suffer from any medical condition which could have been a factor in him taking his own life.

A neighbour who declined to be named said the deceased had a penchant for doing repairs himself.

“This building was very special to him. If he could do the repairs himself, he would prefer to do it himself,” he said.

The deceased’s friend who did not wish to be named said Dr Vijayaratnam was supposed to meet a contractor at his house along Jalan Dato Klana Ma’amor at 10am but delayed it to noon.

“He had plans to renovate his house. The contractor rushed the deceased’s wife to the clinic when told of the incident,” he said.

Dr Vijayaratnam, who is survived by wife T. Anusha and four children aged between 11 and 26, won the Gerakan vice-presidency for the fourth consecutive term in the party polls held on Oct 11. He received the second highest number of votes from a list of 10 candidates.

The doctor-turned-politician comes from a family of politicians. His father, the late Dr S. Seevaratnam was Member of Parliament for Seremban Barat between 1969 and 1974, and was also DAP national treasurer.

His uncle, the late S. Rajaratnam, was Foreign Minister of Singapore from 1966 to the mid 1980s.

Dr Vijayaratnam entered politics in 1981, the same year he entered private practice, after having served the Government for eight years. He was appointed a senator in 2002.

“I come from a family of politicians, so I’ve always been interested in politics,” he told The Star’s BizWeek in an interview late last year.

“When you are a doctor, you meet all kinds of people – rich, poor, corporate, blue-collar and white-collar. People in sickness also tend to expose their problems because psychology is a part of medicine.

“When they open up, you get drawn into their problems. Then comes the desire to try and do something to help them,” Dr Vijayaratnam said.

The former parliamentary secretary of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry also told BizWeek that Gerakan was his party of choice from the start because of his strong belief in a non-racial approach to Malaysian politics.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said he and his party colleagues were extremely shocked and saddened by Dr Vijayaratnam’s sudden demise.

“We have lost a committed comrade and a close friend,” he said in a statement. “Dr Vijayaratnam has been a very dedicated and loyal leader of Gerakan since 1980. He has been a vice-president since 1999, and was also the chairman of Gerakan’s International and Inter-ethnic Relations Bureau.

“We pay tribute to a true Malaysian. Dr Vijayaratnam frequently contributed articles to the media to articulate the party’s ideology and stand on various issues of national concern,” he said.

Gerakan members said they had lost a true Malaysian who did his best to promote integration and instil a sense of muhibbah (racial harmony) not only among party members but also with everyone he met.

Party adviser Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik said Dr Vijayaratnam’s most enduring and memorable trait was his ability to mix with anyone he met.

“He was a disciplined party leader who got on well with all members, whether they were at the leadership level or grassroots members,” he told The Star.

He said Dr Vijayaratnam’s travels around the country over the years were on his own accord and got him elected vice-president for three consecutive terms.

“We are proud to have had a leader like him,” said Dr Lim.

Party deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Yuan, who has known Dr Vijayaratnam for more than 24 years, said the man was a dedicated and committed party member.

“He is a true Malaysian who always talked and argued for ... using the Malaysian perspective to tackle issues faced by the party,” he said.

Chang described Vijayaratnam as an accessible and friendly leader who played his role to help expand the party.

Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said she would miss Vijayaratnam’s humility most of all.

“It is very sad and so shocking. We didn’t expect him to leave us so soon,” she said.

Gerakan veep Dr S. Vijayaratnam found dead (updated)

SEREMBAN: Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam, 58, was found dead outside his clinic here at 11.20am on Monday. Police are investigating.

His body has been taken to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital here for post-mortem.

The police are expected to hold a press conference soon to brief reporters on their initial findings.

Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam.

The doctor-turned-politician comes from a family of politicians. His father, the late Dr S. Seevaratnam was Member of Parliament for Seremban Barat between 1969 and 1974, and was also DAP national treasurer.

His uncle, the late S. Rajaratnam, was Foreign Minister of Singapore from 1966 to the mid 1980s.

Vijayaratnam entered politics in 1981, the same year he entered private practice, after having served the Government for eight years. He was appointed a senator in 2002.

“I come from a family of politicians, so I’ve always been interested in politics,” he told The Star’s BizWeek in an interview late last year.

“When you are a doctor, you meet all kinds of people – rich, poor, corporate, blue-collar and white-collar. People in sickness also tend to expose their problems because psychology is a part of medicine.

“When they open up, you get drawn into their problems. Then comes the desire to try and do something to help them,” Vijayaratnam said.

The former parliamentary secretary of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry also told BizWeek that Gerakan was his party of choice from the start because of his strong belief in a non-racial approach to Malaysian politics.

Pulai Division Dinner

Pulai Division held their dinner at Jia Ping Restaurant, TUTA last night. Opened by Dato Teo Kok Chee , the state chairman, the dinner celebrated the new team in place after the election in August. Pulai Division is headed by Sdr Hoe Hong Seng. YB Chia Song Cheng of Pengkalan Rinting also made a stopover in the middle of the dinner.

Gerakan’s tough choices

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Ironically, it is only now when its political influence has been decimated that Gerakan has found itself in the spotlight.

It probably receives more media coverage now than when it actually governed Penang.

The reason is simple: its members want to leave the Barisan Nasional.

As the first component party to have its elections since March 8, it is in a position to set the tone.

President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is known to be the staunchest advocate of staying in the coalition but even he had to admit that 60 per cent of the grassroots want to leave.

And that’s a conservative figure as other sources quote 80 per cent as a likelier figure. While delegates to the national delegates conference are expected to make this issue of staying or leaving a priority, don’t expect any big news or surprises.

Koh has moved to delay the issue to a future emergency general meeting, insisting that the NDC should focus on internal party matters including what most agree to be make-or-break elections.

But even the elections are unlikely to throw up anything stunning as the only important contest is for deputy president.

It does not seem likely that delegates will back the former KL FT Youth chief Ma Woei Chyi, and will stick to the experienced vice-president Datuk Chang Ko Youn.

After all, it would be consistent with the traditional Penang-Perak formula to pick the Perak chairman.

With Koh returned unopposed, he is now in firm control of the party. Cheras division chief Dr Hsu Dar Ren, who will be running for a place in the central working committee, told The Malaysian Insider that in a debate with Koh, the party chief had said that BN must be given a timeframe to reform.

But the concern is “what exactly is the timeframe?” Every month that passes is one month less for Gerakan to start on its own reforms.

According to political analyst and Gerakan expert Khoo Kay Peng, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement that he will be stepping down is the perfect tonic for Koh to keep Gerakan in BN.

“He cannot suppress the delegates from discussing the issue of leaving BN but the promise of an EGM means there is no need for a referendum on the matter at the NDC.

“Now he doesn’t have to call the EGM as he can ask to give Datuk Seri Najib Razak a chance as prime minister and it buys him a year or two.”

However, this only passes the buck back to Umno. If the party is of the opinion that Gerakan’s reliance on Umno’s hegemony was the reason for its downfall in the first place, then perhaps it can actually effect the changes demanded by the grassroots.

Some grassroots leaders have been theorising about a hypothetical and highly unlikely parallel with Umno. It involves Koh agreeing to a “transition plan” by a dissenting central working committee in the same way Umno’s supreme council ousted Abdullah earlier than he had planned.

Gerakan clarifies statement

By Shannon Teoh


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 - Gerakan has clarified the statements of its Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe with regards to the Bumiputera status of Malays to Barisan Nasional.

President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon added that it would also clarify Tan's statements to Utusan Malaysia which he claims misquoted her in their report with hopes that the newspaper would publish the note of

clarification.

"She was quoted as saying that Malays came from Sumatra. But what she actually said was that Malays came from all over the Malay Archipelago and the peninsula," he explained.

"It was a case of misreporting and misunderstanding," he said, adding that the explanation was accepted at a BN Management Committee meeting at Parliament today.

Tan was reported to have reminded Malaysians not to forget the history of their origins besides claiming that the origins of all races in the country were the same.

The Deputy Information Minister was also quoted as having disputed the status of the Malays as the original inhabitants of this country in a programme produced by a pay TV station recently.

However, despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi yesterday stating that Tan should clarify her statements before action, if any, could be decided upon, Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz called for her to step down as deputy minister.

"How can a Wanita chief from a BN component say something that could hurt the feelings of Malays?" he told Dewan Rakyat.

"If I had the power, I would challenge her, if she really is a 'betina' (female), step down as deputy minister," he continued.

At this point, Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali retorted that such statements were due to "BN's racist campaign in the Permatang Pauh by-election."

"This is the price you have to pay," she said, which Mohamad declined to reply to.

Gerakan co-opts Chia, Asharuddin

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 - Gerakan has co-opted former secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye as vice-president as well as Dr Asharuddin Ahmad as a central working committee member.

Elected committee members Teng Chang Yeow and Datuk Ng Chiang Chin were appointed secretary-general and treasurer respectively with Ng being returned to the post he held in the last term.

The Malaysian Insider understands that these decisions were reached in a CWC meeting today at the party headquarters, the first since last weekend's elections.

Chia's appointment was expected as after losing to vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan in the contest for Perak chairmanship, he decided not to run at national level.

There has also been calls, even by Huan Cheng Guan, the former Youth vice-chief who narrowly beat Asharuddin to the third and final vice-president slot, for the Kuala Selangor division secretary to be co-opted.

Election Results-Click to Enlarge

Koh: No quota system in gerakan leadership

by Giam Say Khoon

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12, 2008) : Although there are three Indians in Gerakan's central working committee (CWC), the party will not practise a quota system in its top leadership to reflect its multi-racial image, said newly-elected party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Koh said the new line-up in the top leadership was a step forward in terms of greater multi-racial representation than the previous leadership.

“We are very committed to getting a more multi-racial representation and reflection within our leadership, (but) we do not practise a quota system because we want to encourage people to come out and be recognised on their merit and commitment to party ideology.

"So rather than look it in terms of quota, we would like to make it a process to encourage more participation from members of all ethnic backgrounds and they will be voted in because they are Malaysians with commitment rather than because of their ethnicity," he told a press conference after closing the National Delegates Conference here today.

The three Indian leaders are vice-president Senator Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam, CWC members Senator A. Kohilan Pillay, who is Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodity, and lawyer B. Jayanthi.

However, some delegates felt efforts to make the party true multi-racial have been unsuccessful.
A Penang senior delegate told theSun that the results proved that the party was not ready for change.

"The delegates failed to make Asharuddin a vice-president and this caused the party to lose its shine in becoming truly multi-racial.

Link to Other Stories:

Gerakan calls for repeal of ISA and an anti-terrorism law to be introduced Donald Lim -- target of attack at Gerakan conference More feedback needed to decide, says Kohilan

"Even if Asharuddin is to be appointed a vice-president by the party president, the impact on Gerakan's efforts to reach this goal would be different and not as strong as being elected," he said.

The participation of Dr Asharuddin Ahmad as the only Malay candidate in the vice-presidents race was seen to have nearly achieved the multi-racial image that the party desired.

Asharuddin, who is chief operating officer of the International College of Health Sciences, polled the fourth highest votes of 537 in the vice-presidents race after newly elected vice-president Huan Cheng Guan (568 votes).

Newly-elected CWC member Dr Hsu Dar Ren admitted that Gerakan is still very much a Chinese-based political party; however, he said the composition of the members was not so important if the members believed in the non-racial cause.

"Although Asharuddin did not win, the majority between Huan and him was just 31 votes. This showed that even with only 10% of Malay members in the party, the Chinese delegates have begun to accept non-Chinese leaders and chose them based on meritocracy.

"He (Asharuddin) was relatively unknown, if he was more well-known to the delegates, he would have won," he said.

Koh, when asked if would accept senatorship and become a minister to have a say in the Cabinet, he said: "Even without being a senator or in the government, I have been and will continue to voice out.

"Whether there is a government post or not, I will play my role, otherwise people will think I am doing this (to become party president) for the sake of a government post, (the answer is) no. And if there is a meaningful and an effective role for me to play, I am willing to play any role including not having a government post."

The new and old Central Working Committee led by Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon.

To a question, Koh said the party has yet to have a plan to serve in Sarawak as there are many Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, which maintain close relationships with the party, serving in the state.

Asked if the delegates had again raised the issue of leaving BN, Koh said it was not included in the debate on the five resolutions.


"There were only one or two delegates who said the party has to re-invent and rebrand as well as be more open-minded," he said.

On the relationship between Gerakan and Penang Umno, which had severed ties with each other because of the incident involving Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail, Koh said the party will decide on this matter in at some point in the future.

Asked if incumbent secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye will be appointed as a vice-president, Koh said the appointment will be discussed by the CWC members when they meet.

It is believed that Asharuddin will also be appointed as one of the five appointed veeps and former Penang executive councillor Teng Chang Yeow, who is Koh's apprentice, will be appointed as Chia's successor to be the next secretary-general.

Koh also said the party had passed five resolutions to:
> Promote democracy and human rights;
> Promote religious and ethnic harmony;
> Rebuilding the party through reforms;
> Prepare the country's economy to face global challenges; and
> Enhance the education system.

To further enhance the democracy in the country, Koh said the party proposed that the BN set up a committee or taskforce to review legislation such as the Universities and University Colleges Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

He reiterated the need for the government to implement a weekly review mechanism on petrol prices so that the people can enjoy cheaper fuel faster when the world crude oil price is lowered.

Si Pin ketua Pemuda Gerakan

Oct 10, 08 4:23pm

Lim Si Pin, anak bekas presiden Gerakan Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, dipilih sebagai ketua pemuda parti itu. Lim memperoleh 242 undi menewaskan pencabarnya Chai Tek Loong yang mendapat 105 undi dan Tan Keng Liang yang memperoleh 115 undi. Keputusan pemilihan Pemuda Gerakan itu diumum di persidangan perwakilan Pemuda, yang berlangsung di ibu pejabat parti di Menara PGRM di ibunegara hari ini. Untuk jawatan timbalan ketua pemuda, gandingan Lim, Paul Yong Yoon Kong tewas kepada Oh Tong Keong. Yong memperoleh 188 undi berbanding Oh yang mendapat 274 undi, demikian dilaporkan Bernama. Bagi tiga jawatan naib ketua pemuda pula, Liang Teck Meng mendapat undi paling tinggi iaitu 408 undi diikuti Vincent Hooi Wy-Hon (371 undi) dan David Ang Chin Tat (226 undi). Dua lagi calon yang tewas ialah S. Vijaya Kumar, yang menerima 201 undi dan Stephen Doss yang mendapat 141 undi. Sebanyak 28 calon bertanding bagi mengisi 18 tempat dalam jawatankuasa pusat pemuda Gerakan. Mereka yang dipilih ialah Tan Kok Seng, Hng Chee Wey, Alex Ong Yeok Leng, Jack Cheow Woon San, Khor Hock Peng, A.Kuhan, Lau Hoi Keong, Chong Chee Yen, Cheah Chee Kuan dan Ou Kwee Hua. Yang lain termasuk Khoo Kha Shin, Ong Teng Boon, Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, Ong Boon Hong, Tan Keit Hock, Chia Gim Tiong, Chang Shui Kiong dan Yap Chen Heng. Sementara itu, Lim, 39, ketika ditemui pemberita berkata beliau bersedia untuk bekerjasama dengan semua pihak bagi menguatkan parti dan melakukan perubahan dalam tempoh tiga tahun ini. "Saya mahu Pemuda Gerakan menjadi organisasi pemuda pertama di negara ini yang mendapat ISO 9001. Itu adalah cara untuk menguatkan parti kita," kata Lim yang merupakan seorang ahli perniagaan. Beliau juga bercadang menubuhkan Persatuan Anak Malaysia untuk menarik minat golongan muda menyertai persatuan itu. "Ini boleh menjadi platform kepada mereka untuk duduk, berdialog dan berbincang mengenai isu politik dan semasa," katanya. Sementara itu Oh, 40, yang tidak menyangka memperoleh kemenangan itu berjanji akan berusaha menarik lebih ramai anggota baru ke dalam parti. "Saya akan bekerja bersama-sama sebagai satu pasukan dengan semangat satu hati untuk mendapatkan ahli baru," katanya yang juga seorang pengurus jualan.

GERAKAN ELECTIONS: Odds in favour of non-Chinese for Veep posts

Dr Teng Hock Nan

PETALING JAYA (Oct 9, 2008) :The odds are in favour of the non-Chinese candidates in the nine-horse race for the Gerakan vice-president posts after incumbent Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan pulled out of the contest, China Press reported today.

Party insiders said Teng's pullout, which is aimed at strengthening the multi-racial approach of the party, has caused some interesting shift in support for the candidates.

Last week, 10 candidates filed their nominations to contest the three vice-president's posts, i.e. six Chinese, three Indians and one bumiputra.

Teng's withdraw from the race on Tuesday changed the ratio of the candidates' racial make-up to 5:3:1.

In announcing his withdrawal from the contest, Teng, who is now the Penang Gerakan chief, said he was doing it "in order to further promote and project the party's multi-racialism for all Malaysians, which can be best represented by three vice-presidents".

Dr Asharuddin Ahmad

"It is my sincere hope that all national delegates can vote for a more multi-racial Gerakan for all Malaysians in the coming party elections."

Party insiders said Teng's "advice" is likely to be well taken by the delegates, thus raising the odds in favour of the non-Chinese candidates, especially the lone Malay candidate Dr Asharuddin Ahmad, the first bumiputra to contest such a high post in the Chinese-dominated party.

"Asharuddin is expected to be elected with the highest number of votes. After all, the party has not seen a Malay at its top leadership before," said a party insider.

Asharuddin,, the 49-year-old chief operating officer of International College of Health Sciences, is

G. Parameswaran

a committee member from Selangor Gerakan.

Of the three Indian candidates, incumbent Datuk Dr. S. Vijaya Ratnam is expected to be re-elected. The others -- Ampang and Bukit Indah Gerakan division chairman G. Parameswaran and party Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy — are not likely to put up a credible fight at the party elections on Sunday.

"Given this scenario, there will only be one seat left for the five Chinese candidates, making it extremely tough fight for them," added the insider.

The five are out-going Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong; Youth vice-chairman Huan Cheng Guan, former Sabah chief Datuk Robin Loh, Selangor vice-chairman Datuk Dr Lim Thuang Seng and former Selangor chief Datuk Lum Weng Keong.

Mah to again propose dissolution of BN component parties to form a single party

PETALING JAYA (Oct 9, 2008) : Out-going Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong discloses that when he chairs the Youth delegates conference for the last time on Saturday, he will again propose the dissolution of all Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties for the formation of a BN party.

According to a report in Sin Chew Daily

today, he said although the leaders of several BN component parties criticised it as being unpractical when he first made the proposal at the Youth delegates conference last year, he still believed that this is the new course BN should chart, especially so after the March 8 general election.

"Post-March 8 surveys and studies showed that the majority of the people want to see BN becoming a single, multi-racial party.

"I feel that BN (component parties') leaders should have the courage to heed the wishes of the people, otherwise there will be an even bigger (political) tsunami in the next general election."

In an interview with the daily, Mah admitted that the BN operation module has indeed worked well in the last 50 years, but it is no longer suitable and if BN remains adamant and refuses to change, it will not be easy for the coalition to win the support of the voters inthe next general election.

Gerakan must have more non-Chinese delegates to become a multi-racial party

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9, 2008) : Gerakan should increase the number of non-Chinese delegates to its party polls by at least 30% to reflect the political party's multi-racial image, said Kuala Lumpur Gerakan division assistant secretary, K.K. Supramaniam.

"The representation of the non-Chinese delegates in the party does not project Gerakan as a multi-racial party. We have to organise programmes to attract non-Chinese members," he told reporters after the launch of a Gerakan booklet titled 'Road Map to Political Recovery' here today.

Supramaniam, one of the 40 candidates vying for a seat on the the party's Central Committee. said out of 2,085 delegates, there were only 98 non-Chinese delegates which was hardly 4.8%.

"We can only call Gerakan as a truly multi-racial party when there are more non-Chinese delegates," he said.

Earlier this month, Dr Asharuddin Ahmad, 49, the Kuala Selangor Gerakan division secretary, became the first Malay candidate to contest a high post, that of a vice-president, in the Chinese-dominated party, after Gerakan founder and first party president Dr Syed Husin Al-Alatas. -- BERNAMA

Back to 1974

By: Regina William (Mon, 27 Aug 2007)

Gerakan adviser Dr Lim Keng Yaik

PENANG: After 33 years, Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties seem to have forgotten why the coalition was formed in 1974, Gerakan’s national adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said yesterday. He said that these days, every issue was looked at with racial undertones.

"Why did we form Barisan Nasional in 1974? Why did Gerakan join Barisan Nasional?" he asked. "Because [Tun Abdul Razak] at that time said please join us to reduce politicking so that we can carry on with the development of the country. "We have now forgotten that," he told some 500 party members attending the Penang Gerakan annual delegates conference.

The Alliance was formed in 1952, comprising Umno and MCA, and later MIC. It later expanded with the inclusion of other parties, like Gerakan and the People’s Progressive Party, to form the BN. "It is 2007 now, and 33 years after the BN was formed, we have forgotten what Barisan Nasional is.

Even Barisan Nasional parties have forgotten the reason for bringing up Barisan Nasional. "Now it is ‘Lu toh lu, waa toh waa’ (Hokkien for you do your own thing and I do my own thing). "Everything is reflected in racial terms and nobody cares about Malaysian terms, nobody cares about Bangsa Malaysia, either Malays, Chinese, or Indians or others and I think we must come back to basics," Lim said.

"Gerakan must keep to its political ideology and philosophy and we have to hold fast to our non-racial approach, to look after the multi-racial people in this country, that is our political philosophy and ideology.

"We must engage that because the situation in the country, from what I see, is getting worse," he said. "Our stand must be a Bangsa Malaysia stand and not one based on race."

Also present were the party’s 34 central committee members, 287 delegates and 150 observers, including acting party president and Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Lim said that Gerakan had a role to play to remind BN of its original objectives to reduce racial and religious politicking, and to concentrate on development. "In 1974, we were just starting to develop and we worked together to build the nation and we have come a long way in terms of development. "Now that we have ‘arrived’, we have forgotten our roots and our tendency is more on the differences between the various races and religions," he said.

"However, we are now facing globalisation and if we do not put our hearts and minds together, we are going to be wiped out. "Whatever gains we have made in the last 33 years will be thrown down the drain because we cannot keep up with the competition anymore ... we have to work harder to compete with the rest of the world and not among ourselves," he said. Lim observed that there was no shortage of people who played the race and religious cards, including those who were not politicians.

"If we go (on) like that, we will die standing la," he said. Commenting on Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim’s comment that Malaysia should consider doing away with English common law, Lim said it was not up to Ahmad Fairuz to decide on this.

Any change in the legal system would need to be passed by the legislature. "I don’t care, if he wants to send me to jail. Not much time left for me to be in jail anyway," said Lim, who had the delegates in stitches. To mark the 50th Merdeka, Gerakan has come up with T-shirts with the words "I love Malaysia" and "I love Penang", which were distributed at the conference. Koh called on the government not to make any drastic decision to do away with the English common law, which has been part of Malaysia’s legal system for more than 50 years.

"The government must ensure that the calls for change are not for emotional or political reasons. There is no need to change a system that has worked well," he said. He said improvements could be made to the legal system and to ensure that the judiciary functioned efficiently, without having to resort to changing the system drastically.

Referring to Ahmad Fairuz’s comments at a law seminar organised last week, Koh stressed the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the rule of law, which have built a good reputation for Malaysia among foreign investors.

"The English common law has worked well and must be maintained and we cannot allow this to be changed to a system which has yet to be tested, as it will damage our integrity and credibility and investors will lose confidence," he said. He said the removal of provisions under Section 5 of the Civil Law Act, which are related to trade and commerce, could affect investments.

Earlier, in his speech, Koh said Malaysians should not let their greatest strength, which is being multi-racial, multicultural and multi-religious, become a liability. He said these features of Malaysian society, including its multi-lingual ability, allowed the people to communicate with 75% of the world’s population. He said Malaysians must take full advantage of this. "If we’re squabbling among ourselves and fail to accept this multi-faceted asset, it can become a liability."

He called on Gerakan members to counter all forms of extremism."We cannot counter racism with racism, or we would be committing the same crime.We have to take a non-racial approach – the Bangsa Malaysia approach."

Lim praises theSun’s Malaysian approach.

PENANG: theSun was singled out at the Penang Gerakan annual delegates conference yesterday for being "Malaysian" in its reports and for not playing on communal sentiments.

Gerakan national adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik was chiding local newspapers for writing on issues with racial undertones. "The Chinese press takes one side and the Malay press takes another side," he said. "Is there any Malaysian press where we can talk as

Malaysians and as Bangsa Malaysia? Is there any?" he asked.

"theSun!" he said to applause from the delegates. Lim, who is energy, water and communications minister, said it would not augur well for the nation if all the newspapers resorted to reporting based on racial sentiments. Pointing at journalists covering the event, he said: "All of you newspapers, I am scolding you, but I think I have the right, after 35 years in politics, to scold you if you are doing the wrong thing.

"We must admit we are a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. "You cannot play on one race only. If you do that, you are going to burn us all alive and this is the message I give to our Gerakan members."

Chia not contesting due to 'unhealthy culture' in Gerakan

Kong See Hoh

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7, 2008) : GERAKAN secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye says unhealthy culture in the party is a reason why he has decided not to run for any national post in the party central elections on Saturday.

Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye

Chia, who lost to vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam in the contest for the Penang Gerakan chief post narrowly recently, said he had sensed the emergence of the unhealthy culture as early as the March general election.

"I feel that if I join the contest for a senior party post, the unhealthy culture might become worse. As such I have given up the contest, to see how I can improve and rectify the situation.

"If I were to contest, (I would) definitely have gone for the deputy president or president's post, which would likely result in tougher fights and an even more unhealthy situation," Chia said in explaining to Sin Chew Daily why he opted out of the contest, a decision which surprised many.

However, the former Bukit Bendera MP did not elaborate on what he meant by unhealthy culture in the party.

He also did not blame the Penang delegates for his defeat in Penang, saying what is important "is to accept and respect the decision of the delegates".

He said even if he had won the contest for the Penang Gerakan chief post, he would not have gone ahead to contest a national post as he wanted to put all his efforts in helping to rejuvenate Penang Gerakan, which he said "is important to the party although it is a small state".

He said he contested the state chief post because he wanted to revitalise Penang Gerakan with his years of experience as party secretary-general.

He said despite the defeat to Teng, he would remain focused in Penang, including cultivating a healthy political culture.

"As such, I will not explain anymore or look for reasons (why I lost). What I want to do is to look forward and forge ahead." --theSun

GERAKAN ELECTIONS: Teng not defending veep post

Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (Oct 7, 2008) : Newly-elected Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan has withdrawn from the party's vice-presidential race in Saturday's central elections.

Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan

Teng, who secured the highest number of votes in the vice-presidential elections three years ago, said his decision was to give Indian and Malay candidates a stronger chance of being elected.

That leaves nine candidates to fight it out for the three vice-presidents' posts up for grabs, including three Indians - incumbent Senator Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam, Ampang Gerakan chairman G. Parameswaran and party Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy.

The sole Malay candidate is Kuala Selangor Gerakan secretary Dr Asharuddin Ahmad.

The other candidates are former Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong, former Penang Youth chief Huan Cheng Guan, former Sabah chief Datuk Robin Loh, Datuk Dr Lim Thuang Seng and former Selangor Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Lum Weng Keong.

Teng said his decision was made to "further promote and project the party’s multi-racialism for all Malaysians which can be best represented by three vice-presidents.”

“It is my sincere hope that all national delegates can vote for a more multi-racial Gerakan for all Malaysians in the coming party elections," he stressed.

He added that he had the blessings of party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and adviser Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

When contacted later, Teng stressed that this was the first time in the memories of most members that there was such a multi-racial contest in the party.

"I find that this is the first time that all three main races are contesting for the post of vice-president,” he said. "I have to withdraw."

It is, however, believed that Teng has a chance of being appointed as a vice-president or at the least as a party central committee member.

Koh has the power to appoint up to five additional vice-presidents, and six non-elected party members into the central committee. --theSun

No debate on whether Gerakan will leave BN at delegates meet

Giam Say Khoon

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3, 2008): Gerakan's national delegates conference next week will not feature any debate on whether the party should leave the Barisan Nasional, an issue that has been in the news lately, its secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said today.

Chia said this is because he has yet to receive any resolution on this matter from any state. He said he had only received five resolutions -- on human rights, politics, economy, education and party affairs.

"However, if the delegates wish to express their views on this matter (of BN membership), they can still touch on during the debate on the president's speech, but since it is not a resolution, no decision will be taken," he told a media briefing on the NDC.

Asked whether there is a need for an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) on the issue, Chia said if there is a need, the new central working committee will decide on it.

This year's NDC, on the theme "Satu Hati Gerak Bersama" (Together we move forward) will be held on Oct 11 and 12 and see the participation of 2,081 delegates.

"I expect 80% of the delegates will turn up for the NDC as there will be an election. We will also spend only the first day to debate on the president's speech and we will use the second day to debate on our five resolutions," Chia said.

Chia, who had earlier announced that he would not contesting any post this time, said he will receive nomination forms from candidates in the central election as a "neutral" party.

On his future plan in the party, Chia said since he is not contesting any post in the elections, he will also decline any appointment in the party.

He said he has served the party as secretary-general for nine years and "it is only fair for young people to take over the post". "I will continue to serve in the party and contribute to political development in a different capacity," he said.

Chia had contested against party vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan in the Penang election last month for the state chairman's post and lost to Teng by just 10 votes. It is believed this loss contributed to his decision to not contest any post during the NDC.

To a question, Chia said he is still fit to continue in politics and will not retire now.

Asked for his comment on his relationship with acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Teng, an "Iron Triangle" which he had earlier described as "rusted", Chia had refused to say more.

Three-corner fight for Gerakan Youth top post

Giam Say Khoon

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3, 2008) : With Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong deciding to go for the vice-presidency, the youth wing top post saw election action again after 24 years of "no-contest".

The three contenders are incumbent deputy chief Lim Si Pin, Negri Sembilan youth chief Chai Tek Loong and Kedah youth chief Tan Keng Liang.

Lim, who claims to have the support of eight states (Malacca, Selangor, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur-Federal Territories, Perak , Sabah and
Kelantan), announced his manifesto titled "Leadership, Sincerity, Rejuvenation" after the nominations closed at noon today.

Lim, who is former president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik's son, said the wing needed to formulate policy whereby the entire wing can work as a team.

Asked if he was using the "cai dan" (political menu) for the delegates to elect his entire team, Lim explained that the team members were not picked by him.

"The list belongs to them (the representatives from all states). It is not mine and the list is endorsed by the state Youth chiefs. At the lowest point of the history in the party, I want to seek the participation of all states. Without them, I think it is an uphill task for us (to rejuvenate the party)," he added.

Lim's opponent Chai also launched a manifesto titled "Expedite Reformation and March on Again". Chai said his intention to contest did not go down well with some party leaders who called him to get him to negotiate, so as not to cause a split in the wing.

The deputy chairman post was contested by Lim's running mate Paul Yong Yoon Kong, who was Negri Sembilan Youth chief, while Chai's running mate is Oh Tong
Keong.

The three vice-chairman posts saw a five-cornered fight with the participation of Stephen Doss, S. Vijayakumar, Liang Teck Meng, Vincent Hooi and David Ang Chin Tat.

There will also be a total of 28 candidates fighting for the 18 central committee membership.

Speaking to reporters after nominations closed for the Youth and Wanita wings today, Mah said the competition was good for the youth wing, noting that for this election, seven incumbents had reached their age limit of 45 and could not defend their posts any longer.

"Only two incumbent are still eligible to stay and contest for the nine top posts in the wing. We have also 10 new Youth chairmen in 11 states. This is a breakthrough in the democratic process. We did not stop anyone from participating in the election as the youth chief, deputy and vice-chairmen posts will all be contested by new candidates," he said.

Mah, who announced his decision to stand in the vice-president post yesterday, said he only hoped candidates would close ranks after the election and refrain from using personal attacks.

He said the party had 10 MPs and 30 state assemblymen before the March general election, but now has only two MPs and four assemblymen. "So we cannot afford to be split. We should accept the fact and not be disappointed.

"Some says the party will be destroyed after the general election, but today we see many candidates offering themselves in the party election and this
shows that many still want to serve in Gerakan," he added.

As for the Wanita wing, its Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe was returned unopposed.

However, Tan's incumbent deputy Datin Paduka Yong Dai Ying, who was Bukit Lanjan assemblyman, had chosen not to defend her post, resulting in a straight
fight between Ng Siew Lai and Ong Kim Suan.

The three vice-presidential posts for the wing will also see a four-cornered fight by Chin Nyuk Chin, Yong Fuie Moy, Eng GaiK Hong and Azmar Md Ilias.

A total of 19 candidates will also be contesting for 18 central commttee membership.

Chia admits rocky ties with Gerakan’s top two

PENANG, Oct 2 — For the first time, Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye has disclosed that his relationship with vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam and acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon might "have lost its shine or rusted".

While the inner party circle has dubbed the trio as the “Iron Triangle”, Chia doubts that the cordial relationship, which they currently enjoyed, could be maintained due to "external interference".

"You cannot deny there is a contest (between him and Dr Teng for the Penang state chairman post). Whether they will bend or break the so-called triangle, I think it remains to be seen, and a subject to a lot of interpretation,

"Any relationship has to be genuine. If you have got that principle, you will not go wrong because you will not allow external interferences to influence you.

"Our society is not closed. There are external forces — what we call core of supporters. You cannot deny if there is any contest, there are members on the ground who behave differently from the leaders at the top," he told Bernama in an interview.

Chia said the maturity level was different for different people and if they allowed personal interest and hidden agendas to come into play, it would not be easy for the relationship to be maintained.

He said if the leaders subjected themselves to external interferences, it would get the members on the ground confused because as a leader, there was a need for them to send the right message to the grassroots.

Asked why he has been lying low after the Penang Gerakan election on Sept 21, where he lost in his bid to be elected as new state chairman to Dr Teng, Chia said it was only natural for him to lie low.

"My other principle is that all the delegates decided on who should be the state chairman. Let the new person have a hand to run it and carry out the task," he said.

On his relationship with Dr Teng after the state election, Chia refused to give any direct answer except to say: "Many questions have been asked on my relationship with Dr Teng, as well as with Dr Koh.

"So, at personal level, there is no point denying or commenting. This question never stops. Very tiresome in answering and giving the same answer all the time."

On the coming national delegates conference (NDC), Chia said the party elections were likely to overshadow what the party had done, while at the same time, did not rule out that the future of the party in the Barisan Nasional would be discussed by the delegates.

"This subject is mostly discussed in our dialogue. However, for the matter to be discussed at NDC, I have not received any official resolution or debate on whether to stay or leave the BN," he noted.

However, Chia said this did not mean the delegates would not raise the issue.

Any issue related to the party position in the BN should be discussed at the extraordinary national delegates conference (ENDC).

"I foresee that the delegates will continue to raise the topic at the NDC although there was no formal discussion. It can be raised in the form of a debate or outside the debate. I foresee this would happen," he added.

Chia, however, cautioned party members from making any extreme decision as they should not forget the party's idealism.

"We never allowed pragmatism to justify not sticking to our ideas. I know it is a difficult balance,

"Looking at the situation in the country and the party, we need to exercise our political objective — that is, only things that are permanent. Leaders come and go. We need to go back to basics," he said.

Therefore, he said, Gerakan must always have the interest of people in its heart as that is the only way the party can regain support from the people. —Bernama

Gerakan says Umno should discuss leadership change with BN partners

Dr Koh giving a speech during the Gerakan National Delegates’ conference in Kuala Lumpur today. — Bernama pic

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 - Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon says the future of Umno's leadership should be discussed with other Barisan Nasional component parties.

"The leadership of Umno is also the leadership of the country. I believe when things are clearer, the BN supreme council will meet and be briefed about the transition," he told reporters when quizzed about Kedah Gerakan Youth's recent statement on the matter.

He added that Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib had already said that it was a reasonable idea and request.

The former Penang chief minister added that it was not about interfering with a component party's internal affairs because "it is positive to have a better understanding and consensus as it it is also about the leadership of BN."

Although he stated that what was important now was for the party to attend to its party elections and then move forward, he was guarded when asked about the lack of candidates having declared their intentions ahead of the Oct 11 polls.

"I will not comment until after nomination because I don't know yet. But, internally, there is a lot of interest and leaders are indicating as much," he said.

"Why should we take the surprise out of Saturday?" he said of this weekend's nomination of candidates.

Koh also backed Datuk Seri Najib Razak's statement yesterday on the economy, saying that it is the country's main challenge at this point.

"Even though our fundamentals are strong, we have to be careful. So it is time for all citizens and political parties to reduce politicising of issues such as religion and race," he said, echoing the deputy prime minister's warning.

Teng: Gerakan's prerogative to stay or leave BN

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan today told off deputy Penang Umno chief Datuk Rashid Abdullah for meddling in its affairs.

"For Gerakan to stay on in Barisan Nasional or to leave Barisan Nasional is absolutely the decision and prerogative of its members. Nobody should tell us what to do," said Teng in a press statement released today.

Yesterday, the deputy chairman of the Penang Umno liaison committee was reported to have accused Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon of being a BN "party spoiler" for voicing out the desire of a majority of party members for Gerakan to pull out of the coalition.

"As a leader, he must be responsible to the coalition. He needs to set the course for Gerakan and make his position clear. After all, a fish rots from the head down," Rashid had said.

He added that such "factions can leave if they want to".

Teng blasted Rashid for his "totally uncalled for" remarks and reminded him to abstain from making further insinuations as the BN had proper channels for discussing and deliberating component party issues, that is at the BN supreme council and the management committee.

Teng, who is also Gerakan state chairman, said that Rashid was in no position to challenge Gerakan's stand as he is "only the Nibong Tebal Umno division chief and liaison committee deputy chairman".

"I wonder whether he made this comment so as to obtain political mileage in his up and coming division contest," Teng questioned.

He also took umbrage at comments made by another BN ally, MCA state deputy chief Lau Chiek Tuan, who had allegedly said that Koh was "hiding behind party members' opinions".

"During this uncertain political climate in the country where Gerakan is going through its party elections, Umno itself is facing its worst ever political turmoil and MCA is facing a big challenge in its upcoming party elections, I would like to request all BN component party leaders and members to speak with care and sensitivity so as not to further aggravate the present political situation," he concluded.

Gerakan’s Iron Triangle Breaking Up?

Alan Ting, BERNAMA

PENANG, SUN:

For the past 20 years, Gerakan’s top three leaders — acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye had always formed a formidable team.

So much so they were dubbed as the “Iron Triangle”, reflecting their closeness, with some party members even likened their bonds to the party’s emblem, which is triangular in shape.

The trio also built up their respective political career in the Bukit Bendera constituency.

Dr Koh was previously the state assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah, Dr Teng was the Pulau Tikus state assemblyman — both are in the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat — while Chia was the MP before his defeat in the March 8 general election.

“Once, they were also called the ’Dream Team’ as they had built up such a formidable political force in Penang and in the party,” a retired senior Gerakan leader told Bernama.
Lately however, some party leaders and insiders said they began to detect signs that the Iron Triangle was breaking up.

Cracks seemed to have appeared after the March 8 general election and some party members even interpreted that the cracks meant that the trio might no longer be on the same ship.

“Their public appearance is very superficial. I think the ’triangle’ had actually started to collapse sometime in February and early March when two of them (Dr Teng and Chia) started to lobby to become the next Penang chief minister,” said a grassroots member from the Bukit Bendera division.

Lending further credence to the perception was the fact that Dr Teng decided to contest against Chia for the Penang state Gerakan chairman’s post — a move, according to some Penang Gerakan members, that had upset Chia.

“There has been an arrangement earlier that when Dr Koh steps down as the Penang Gerakan chairman, Chia would be given a chance to take over. However, at the last minute, Dr Teng came in and challenged him,” a Gerakan divisional leader said.

Differences between Chia and Dr Teng began to surface when Chia, just a day before the Penang Gerakan state elections, suggested that the party break away from Barisan Nasional.

“This was a calculated move by Chia to win the delegates’ support after some personal attacks were hurled at him,” one of Chia’s supporters said, claiming that the “pull out from BN” statement had prompted Dr Koh to hold an unscheduled closed-door briefing just before the start of the party’s state elections last Sunday.

During the briefing, Dr Koh had said that there was no doubt that some would want to see Gerakan leave the BN but at the same time, they did not indicate whether they would continue to support the party after the pullout.

This seemed to have jolted the delegates to their senses and forced them to ponder about the fate of the party if it were to be out of BN and with support eroding.

And because of this, the Chia supporter claimed, some delegates threw their support to Dr Teng, who won by a mere 10-vote majority.

Dr Teng secured 166 votes, Chia obtained 156 while another candidate, Bukit Gelugor division chairman Cheang Chee Gooi, only managed to secure 21 votes.

But for former Penang state executive councillor and Gerakan Youth chief Teng Chang Yeow, the rift had not reached a level of breaking, only at the point of “loosening up”.

“After a while, corrosion will set in. So you need to put some oil. Whether this would smoothen the whole thing again, it remains to be seen,” he said.

But this latest development has given some veteran leaders in the party some concern.

For instance, one of them, Tan Sri Dr Chin Fook Weng, said, “Whatever happens, the Iron Triangle cannot break as it holds a very significant power play and balancing act in the party.

“If the triangle breaks, the consequences are that any one of them may break away from the party, bringing with them substantial numbers of supporters.” Results in the recent Penang Gerakan election showed that both Dr Teng and Chia still wield considerable support.

“Some members have said that it was a proxy fight but as a keen watcher, I would rather say that each one of them has a different personality, with their own ways and ideas,” Chin said.

“It is how we get these people to come and work together. Chia coordinates well, that is why he is always regarded as a good coordinator. You get maximum result,” he said.

Dr Teng, on the other hand, is a person who has a good appearance and good public relations skills, including having an advantage to speak various languages, including Tamil, said Dr Chin.

“Each of them has strengths and weaknesses and they need each other’s strengths to cover their respective weaknesses,” he said.

Now it would be interesting to see whether Dr Teng would bring Chia to sit on the Penang State Liaison Committee (SLC) after becoming the state chairman.

“Chia has lost. He is also not a division chairman as the Bukit Bendera chairman is Dr Teng. How to have him at the SLC when he is not even one of the six delegates voted in? “He is not in the list, but that can be done by bringing Chia to SLC through Central Working Committee (CWC), which has a provision to appoint a central liaison officer (CLO) to sit in the SLC,” said Dr Chin.

Dr Chin explained that the CWC can appoint anybody and the state chairman has to consult the CLO whenever important decisions were to be made.

“We also can also appoint three persons as central appointees in the SLC.

This was used to stabilise the party in the past,” he said.

For Bayan Baru division chairman Wong Mun Hoe, the trio is not breaking up as Chia is known to be a team player and party leaders normally closed ranks after the party election is over.

“The Iron Triangle is not easy to break. The triangle members understand the Gerakan way of doing things. Gerakan does not usually practise the winner takes all and loser loses all concept.

“Once the election is over, the rivals will close ranks and those who have been elected will usually bring in those who did not make it,” he said.

Wong said it would be something unexpected if Chia decided to break away from the triangle such as suggested by some.

There is a talk that Dr Teng and Chia will fight it out again for the Gerakan’s deputy president post in the party election scheduled on Oct 11.

Some even predicted that Chia might go for broke by contesting against Dr Koh for the party’s presidency.

Gerakan mulls quitting Barisan, may join Pakatan

By LISA GOH

For Video News, click here

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan is considering the option of leaving Barisan Nasional and joining the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this was among three options for the party - the other two being to either stay with the ruling coalition, or leave and become independent.

“We are not ruling out any possibility at this moment. We have to assess the situation, but we are not closing any doors.

“Neither are we saying we will definitely leave. It’s something we need to assess but we cannot do it based on sentiments alone,” he told reporters after launching the KL-Federal Territory (FT) state delegates conference here on Sunday.

Dr Koh said the party was examining how the political scenario in the country would continue to change, and had been getting feedback from the grassroots.

“If you go on sentiments alone, I would say more than 60% (want us to leave), but we are taking a lot of factors into consideration, and a decision cannot be based just on sentiments.

“It’s a very trying time, and there is need for a lot of rational, objective analysis. It cannot be a straightforward simplistic decision,” he said.

In his opening speech, Dr Koh also announced that he would be contesting for the president’s post in the October party elections.

“I am offering myself for the post, but I also set a timeframe for myself, and it is unlikely that I will go beyond two terms. I would like to have younger and newer leaders to continue the process of political commitment,” he said.

Asked if he would name his deputy, he replied: “We will let the delegates decide.”

He was also asked to comment on some 20 FT Gerakan members who had defected to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), including former FT Gerakan information bureau chief Gan Kok Keng and former Setiawangsa Gerakan chief Li Tiam Chai.

“I feel surprised because it was only last week when Li Tiam Chai was with me in a meeting and there were no signs that he was not happy.

“We were talking about how to strengthen the party. So I am surprised but I will continue with the veterans, and new members are committed,” he said.

Dr Koh also commented on the Umno leadership transition, which he hoped would be “smooth and peaceful.”

“Even though the change in Umno leadership is an internal party matter, but we are also concerned because the Umno leader also becomes the leader of Barisan and the Federal Government,” he said.

Earlier this month, Gerakan became embroiled in the controversy over former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s alleged racist remarks in which he purportedly described Malaysian Chinese as “squatters.”

Gerakan leaders had demanded an apology and for action to be taken against the Umno man, who in turn blamed Gerakan for Barisan’s poor showing in the March 8 general election, which saw the state of Penang fall to to the opposition.

The war of words even saw Ahmad’s supporters tearing down a picture of Dr Koh after a press conference.

The Umno Supreme Council subsequently suspended Ahmad from his party posts for three years, although he remains a member. No further action was taken against him.

20 quit Gerakan to join PKR

Charles Ramendran

PETALING JAYA (Sept 28, 2008): Saying they have no more faith in their party and Barisan Nasional, about 20 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Gerakan leaders and members joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) today.

The group was led by former Gerakan FT information bureau head K.K. Gan and Setiawangsa branch chairman Li Tiam Chai and also consisted of former members of the Bukit Bintang, Kepong and Wangsa Maju branches.

They announced their decision to join PKR in the presence of PKR vice president R. Sivarasa, information chief and Batu MP Tian Chua, and Ampang MP and PKR wanita head Zuraida Kamaruddin at the PKR headquarters at Merchant Square in Damansara.

Gan, a Gerakan member for 24 years, said there was no future for a multi-racial party like Gerakan in BN.

"Former Gerakan president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik had said soon after the general election in March that Gerakan is like a beggar and if it stayed on in BN, it will be finished," he said.

"Current (acting) president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon says we must stay on in BN to change Umno, but will Umno really change?"

He claimed that 80% of the Gerakan grassroots wantd change in the party and at least 300 more members were expected to join PKR soon.

Tian Chua, who welcomed the former Gerakan members, said their membership would help strengthen PKR.

Sivarasa said it was not an easy decision for the Gerakan members to cross over to PKR after serving the party for decades but they chose to do so in the best interest of the country.

"We had not offered them money or posts but they joined us as they see there is no area for change in Umno or BN," he said.

Former Gerakan FT chief and Segambut MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who joined PKR about a month ago, was present .

Tham denies having joined Gerakan

GEORGE TOWN (Sept 28. 2008) : Former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) member Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, who resigned from the party after it left the Barisan Nasional (BN) recently, has denied that he is ready to join Gerakan.

Tham, who is a former deputy chief minister of Sabah and a SAPP founder member, said he was more keen on pursuing his business than getting back into politics for the time being.

"I am very close to Gerakan," he admitted.

"I pulled out of SAPP because it left the BN… But now, I don’t know if Gerakan will also leave the BN."

Tham said this at a Teh Tarek forum on Sabah politics organised by Gerakan National Political Training Bureau and the Satu Academy at the Gerakan state headquarters here.

He also denied that he would cross over to join another opposition party of the Pakatan Rakyat.

"I will probably stay out of politics," he said. "It is very difficult to divide my time between politics and business."

He said he resigned as SAPP member as he had in the last general elections helped the party by asking voters to support the BN.

"I have worked with the BN government for so long. If I were to suddenly work with the opposition, it would make no sense," he said, adding that BN had done a "fair bit" for Sabah.

Gerakan- Lim Si Pin announces contest for Gerakan youth chief's post

maria

Gerakan Deputy Youth Chief and the son of former Gerakan president Lim Si Pin announced his intention to contest for the party's youth head's post.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Federal Territory Wanita and Youth delegates conference, Lim said that this decision was made after consulting and gathering the opinions of members in the various states.

He said Negeri Sembilan Gerakan youth chairman Paul Yong will be his running mate for the deputy's position.

"Today we are announcing our offer to run as a team for the coming party polls and will announce our manifesto at a later date," he said.

The age limit for Gerakan youth is 45 and below.

Koh: 60% want Gerakan to leave BN

BUT WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND SENTIMENTS, PARTY TOLD
by Maria J. Dass

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28, 2008): Although the sentiment among the grassroots for Gerakan to leave Barisan Nasional (BN) is prevalent because of incidents that took place over the last two months, the party is adopting a cautious stand as it needs to examine and ponder over its survival post-BN.

"At least 60% say 'let us be relieved of this burden', which is considered an emotional burden, but we have to go beyond that, we have to go beyond sentiments," the party's acting president, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, said today.

"Now, after the initial feelings and sentiments because of things that have happened, especially in the last one to two months, have subsided, they are becoming much more calm, collected and mature in their approach and are able to think over the things that have been discussed," he said at the opening of the Federal Territory (FT) Gerakan Wanita and Youth delegates conference.

Gerakan had been embroiled in a controversy over the remarks made by former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail in a speech during the run-up to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

"Going by the sentiments gathered from views at the grassroots level, at least 60% say it is very difficult to stay in the coalition (BN) because they are being criticised outside," Koh said.

"But we have to go through a more objective and rational analysis of this and we are going thorough that process.

"Of course, the sentiment gathered from people outside is why should you stay in Barisan?, You should come out.

"But they very seldom ask the third question. The first question is always 'Will you support Barisan?', the second is 'Would you want Gerakan to remain in Barisan? and the third is 'When we come out, will you support us versus DAP or versus PKR?. That question is seldom being asked until lately.

"We are now getting answers, which are very realistic answers. We need to take a lot of factors into consideration and not just based on sentiments."

Koh said that while sentiments are important and have to be taken into consideration for the future of the political role of Gerakan in the political arena, "it has to be a combination of the heart and the mind".

"We have to combine sentiment with rational analysis and we have adjusted our thinking after much pondering," he said.

"It is a very trying and challenging time. It is time for a lot of soul-searching and rational objective and analysis, combined with a lot of sentiments, and thus, it cannot be a straightforward simplistic, simple decision.

"We are not ruling out any possibilities and are constantly getting feedback and analysis in addition to monitoring the changes in the country’s political landscape."

Koh said no deadline has been set as the party does not want to be rigid in view of the constant changes happening around it.

He said there are three options for the party, which are to stay in BN, leave BN and join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), or leave the BN and be independent.

>> On whether he will contest for the presidency in October , Koh announced he would be but it clear he would not remain in office for more than two terms as he wants to elevate young leaders to engineer change and revive the party.

>> On his choice for deputy, he said: "We will eventually let the delegates decide."

>> On Gerakan Federal Territory members hopping over the PKR (see accompanying story), Koh said: "I was just informed of this although I had heard the rumours two days ago that some of our leaders are in talks with them."

He said he was shocked because two weeks ago, some of those who defected had sat in a meeting with him and never indicated any dissatisfaction.

"This episode also shows that PKR seeks publicity and confrontation, and puts up political dramas, as they just had to welcome these members on the same day that the Gerakan FT is holding its delegates conference," Koh said.

>> On the power transition plan in Umno, Koh said Gerakan hopes it will be carried out in a smooth and peaceful manner so as not to upset the social and economic order.

He said by tradition, the change in party leadership in a BN component party is an internal matter, However, he hopes that the BN supreme council will brief the other component parties on what the Umno supreme council has decided so that the transition plan can be understood by other component parties.

He said BN is in dire need of a revamp and re-branding to remain relevant.

"What is important at the end of the day is that this transition benefits the BN and, most of all, the country," he said.

SDC - Goodhope Hotel, 14 Sept 2008

2008 State Delegates' Conference at Goodhope Hotel.

Over 400 delegates attended and returned Dato' Teo Kok Chee as the state chairman for the 4th time.