Tsu Koon braces for grilling from Gerakan delegates

Tsu Koon faces internal barbecue

KUALA LUMPUR — The Gerakan national delegates conference this weekend is expected to be a heated affair because of the events that have affected the party this year.

Party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who has been under pressure over his leadership style, may find himself having to listen to more criticisms.

Koh, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, is likely to be asked about matters revolving around Gerakan’s standing in Barisan Nasional.

For example, the delegates are likely to ask him about Gerakan giving up the Barisan chairmanship of Batu in the Federal Territory, which the party had traditionally held, to Umno.

Some delegates say they expect issues concerning personalities and leadership styles to be raised, especially since there had hardly been enough time for a cooling of tensions among certain key members.

It was only last month after all that Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam survived a vote of no confidence.

At about the same time, Gerakan stalwart and former president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik quit as party adviser.

Although the issues were deemed to have been solved by the party’s national leaders, many among the grassroots don’t think so, according to some delegates.

A party insider expects a “strong undercurrent of dissent” at the conference to be attended by 2,100 delegates.

“Koh’s leadership will surely be a topic of discussion,” he said.

“For Gerakan to survive the next general election, we need leadership which is stronger and more vocal. Gerakan must play a more significant role in national politics.”

A delegate thinks that Koh pays too much attention to his ministerial duties and doesn’t give enough time to party affairs.

Deputy national Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said party members accept that Koh has a different leadership style from that of his predecessor.

But they nonetheless want him to be firm and more assertive in stating the party’s stand in national politics, he added.

Vice-president Senator A. Kohilan Pillay feels that Koh’s leadership is not a big issue.

He says that Koh has been working untiringly and quietly to rebuild the party’s morale and image.

“Of course they are some unhappy ones. They have the right to use the conference to voice their concern over what is happening in the party.

“But this is common and happens in other parties as well,” he said. — Bernama