Stay out of GE13, Koh told

Gerakan's Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe says president is being perceived as a liability and may jeopardise party's chances of winning in the general election

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe urged Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon to back off from being a candidate in the upcoming 13th general election.

“If there is a need to step down, just step down,” Tan said at the at the 24th Gerakan national delegates conference (NDC) at the party headquarters in Cheras this morning.

Later at a press conference, she said that the message in her opening speech to the wanita wing was meant for Koh and clarified that she was not asking him to step down as president.

“I’m requesting the party to decide on that. I’m not pressuring him to step down immediately.”

She explained that Koh may be a liability to the party in the general elections as he is being perceived to be a weak leader.

“Once a candidate is named, the people may use (Koh’s) weak leadership as an issue.

Tan who is also Grik MP and deputy minister for domestic trade cooperative,and consumerism said Koh has a choice.

“We want him to be brave (to stand out of the elections) or leave the party,” she said.

When asked whether party members would rebel against Koh if he chose to stand in the elections, she said: “I don’t like to topple people. Let the delegates decide.”

Gerakan deputy president Chang Ko Youn who was also present at the press conference, in an immediate reaction, played down Tan’s call for Koh to lay off the elections.

“Party members have the right to air their views. This will not affect the party’s image,” Chang said.