Even the women want Koh out, but is the Gerakan 'mutiny' for real?

Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has refused to heed the calls of the Women's wing to quit, but pundits who had predicted a bloodbath for the 62-year-old former Penang Chief Minister repeated their forecasts that he will step once he regains some poise and dignity.

"The message is so loud and clear. No one could mistake it but to expect Dr Koh to immediately bow down to a demand from the Women's wing is asking for too much," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Worst betrayal

Indeed, it was a sad day for Tsu Koon, who has a cleaner record compared to many of his BN colleagues. But being party president requires more than personal traits, it requires foresight, vision and a game plan. Koh lacked all these and worst of all, he could not bring himself to stand up to Prime Minister Najib Razak's Umno party.

Nonetheless, Koh rejected the call from Tan Lian Hoe, the Gerakan Wanita chief, to step down, saying she was often absent from meetings and that he would lead the party into the next general election, widely expected to be held next year.

But the worst cut is that Umno has also made it clear that it is hand-in-gloves with the camp that wants Koh out before GE-13 so as to present an image of rejuvenation within the BN to regain the affections of jaded voters..

At the Gerakan Wanita meeting on Saturday, Lian Hoe said the party was ashamed to be "looked down on" for "our self interest and weak leadership style." She also told Koh point-blankly to shape up or ship out.

"We want him to be brave and make decisions that can bring a new life into the party. It should be looked at in a positive way, as a turning point for its survival," she said during the press conference.

Political opportunism

Koh, who accepted a Senator-ship and a federal Cabinet post despite losing his seat during the 2008 general election, has been accused of being too complacent with his cushy job.

He has turned a deaf ear to the growing calls from Gerakan grassroots to take a bolder approach in dealing with coalition boss Umno, telling them that it was wiser to play the role of the 'opposition' within the BN system.

However, that strategy failed abjectly. Each time that Koh or other Gerakan leaders tried to object to 'sensitive' issues, they were rudely shot down by Umno. The same is happening in MCA.

This has led pundits to believe that the current 'mutiny' in Gerakan is also destined to fail as far as reforming Gerakan is concerned. They are of the view that Koh's critics in Gerakan are only after his blood for the sake of raising their own profile and influence within the party and in the government.

Koh's predecessor, Lim Keng Yaik, is among those who are leading the push to oust Tsu Koon, although Tsu Koon was Keng Yaik's own chosen successor. Several months back, Keng Yaik had warned Tsu Koon that Gerakan was "going to the dogs" under his weak hand.

A red-hot confrontation had been expected on Sunday when the main Gerakan annual assembly takes place, but Keng Yaik says he is ill and will not attend. Nevertheless, Gerakan watchers are sure Keng Yaik's "people will do the job for him", referring to more Tsu Koon quit calls.

Lian Hoe's own lip service

Pundits also pointed out that Lian Hoe did not once mention the greatest problem within BN, which is corruption, even though she did scold the coalition's components, again without mentioning names, of not learning from past lessons.

"Our defeat in the 12th General Election has not served as a lesson to the leadership of the component parties in the BN. The spirit of consensus is only lip service," said Lian Hoe, who is also the Grik MP, in what many interpret as being directed at Umno's racial and religious politicking.

She then praised Najib's plan to abolish the ISA, ignoring the two new replacement laws that have been sharply condemned by civil society and human rights groups.

Lian Hoe also called on BN components not to fight for seat, but to let the "top leadership" of BN, which is actually Umno, to decide on who would be the best candidates.

"MCA and Gerakan can only change if they leave BN. Until they do, so what if Tsu Koon quits. The next guy will also be under Umno's thumb. They will sell out to the goodies that Umno offers," said Tian.

Malaysia Chronicle