Tan to Koh: Shape up or ship out

Wanita Gerakan chief Tan Lian Hoe today said that party leaders, including its president Koh Tsu Koon, must get their act together or step down.

At a press conference after the opening of the Wanita Gerakan AGM, she refused to name Koh outright, but later implied he should either "be brave or leave" after being pressed over the matter repeatedly.

In her policy speech earlier, she called on leaders who have been rejected by the people to step down without naming anyone.

When queried her speech was referring to Koh, who led Gerakan to a total wipeout in Penang during the 2008 general election, Tan (right) replied: "I think I shouldn’t deny that".

"But it does not mean that he must step down, he must make an announcement that can be a shot in the arm for the party... If he stays, he needs to do something."

Not trying to oust Koh

Asked if she thought that Koh was a weak leader, she responded: "Sometimes weak in certain things (like) in making swift decisions".

She added that if Koh remained as president, the leadership will be used to attack and bog down Gerakan candidates in the next general election.

Tan also deflected claims that there is infighting within the party and that this will hamper the party's preparation for the general election.

"Don't see something negative as something bad, it can be a turning point for something positive.

"We are just asking him to make a decision... I cannot topple him, I don't like to topple people."

Koh: Tan shares blame

Before the press conference, reporters showed Koh the written copy of Tan's speech and was asked to respond.

Koh said Tan cannot escape the fact the was partly responsible for the party's fortune because the party leadership was a collective responsibility.

"The party leadership is a collective leadership, she is in the Central Working Committee (CWC)..."

He added that the notion that the leadership was weak was merely a matter of perception.

"My perception is that especially in present circumstances, the views are very mixed, don't listen to negative views only."

Koh's deputy wants delegates to decide

When told about this, Tan concurred that she is collectively responsible, but said she essential that they "look themselves in the mirror".

Gerakan deputy president Chang Ko Youn who accompanied Tan for the press conference said he would reserve comments.

"Let the delegates decide in the conferences in these two days, then we will leave it up to the wisdom of the leadership to decide."

Chang also brushed aside concerns of dissenting voice by a senior leader such as Tan.

"We are one of the most democratic party, we don't issue gag orders like PAS, PKR or DAP."