Keng Yaik's son says to step down as Youth Chief next year

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED In a bid to stem speculation that his father was trying to angle the Gerakan presidency for him, Lim Si Pin has announced that he will not defend his Youth chief post when party elections fall due next year.

The son of former Gerakan adviser Lim Keng Yaik and the losing contestant for the Batu parliamentary constituency in the 2008 general election, Si Pin made it clear his decision was not to protest the way Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon had handled his father’s recent and explosive resignation.

“A lot of damage has been done to the party, so the best solution is for me to get out of the equation. It is this kind of conspiracy theories surrounding party members, all this talk of creating dynasties. If they don't stop, how are we to encourage young people to join us?” Si Pin told a press conference on Friday.

Tsu Koon - unbearable weakness

On Monday, the 71-year old Keng Yaik – a former long-time Cabinet minister – had shocked the nation with his sudden decision to quit as Gerakan adviser to protest Tsu Koon’s weak leadership.

Keng Yaik

In particular, Keng Yaik was upset because Tsu Koon did not wish to get involved in the factional infighting at Penang division, where some delegates are planning to table a no-confidence vote against state chief Teng Hock Nan.

Keng Yaik, who had been Gerakan president from 1980 to 2007, minced no words when he warned that Gerakan would "go to the dogs" if Tsu Koon did not change his ways.

“I’m very sad as the adviser and the former party president for 27 years. Maybe my outburst will shake him up but I don’t think so. What is the point of becoming the adviser when the president doesn’t listen to you? So I’m going to resign,” said Keng Yaik.

Sakit hati not satu hati

Tsu Koon, who was the Penang chief minister, before losing the state to the Pakatan Rakyat two years ago has been accused of placing priority on his Cabinet position, and not doing enough to speak out against the recent spate of racial intolerance displayed by the likes of Perkasa and the Umno-owned Utusan.

Tsu Koon has tried to rally members

Even so at an emergency meeting, the Gerakan central committee had voted to to reject Keng Yaik's resignation but the veteran refused to change his mind, forcing Tsu Koon to accept his decision to quit.

The dramatic episode was also marred by several divisions including the Youth wings of Penang and FT, who called Keng Yaik "old" and "senile" in a bid to help Tsu Koon 'save face'.

"Perhaps this what made Si Pin sakit hati (heart-sick), rather than the satu hati (unity with one heart) that Tsu Koon called for. When your own Youth divisions run down your old man in public like that, you really wonder how much respect they have for you and is it worth it to keeping fighting for," a Gerakan watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.

"After all what is Gerakan now - it is just a name plate. And what future does it have under Tsu Koon. He is so hapless, it is a matter of time before all creepy-crawlies will start to come out and take over the party."