What will Koh announce tomorrow?

There are not much options left for Gerakan president Koh Tsu Khoon as he is seen as the main factor in the downfall of Gerakan.

GEORGE TOWN: Tomorrow is decision day for Gerakan president Koh Tsu Khoon. The minister in charge of unity and performance is expected to announce a wide range of changes for Gerakan.

The beleagured president is widely tipped to announce his resignation as Penang Barisan Nasional chairman for starters, although his close aides deny this.

Yesterday, at the Parliament lobby Koh said he will make an important announcement on renewal and reform plans for Gerakan.

Sources say there are three options for Koh: either quit as Gerakan president, take a back seat and let his deputy Chang Ko Youn lead the party, or to cling onto the presidency till the party elections which must be held within the next 15 months.

Formerly a state executive councillor in Barisan Nasional Perak government, Chang lost in Beruas parliamentary contest against DAP strongman Ngeh Koo Ham in the last general election.

State Gerakan vice-chairman and Koh’s political secretary Ong Thean Lye is tipped to lead the state BN in the next general election.

If appointed as expected, Ong, the former Datuk Keramat state assemblyman, will eventually take over from Dr Teng Hock Nan as the Penang Gerakan chief.

Sources say that at a recent private meeting with party leaders, Koh was made to face reality that under him Gerakan was in the doldrums.

Sources said a party top leader has told Koh to quit now so that he would go out gracefully with his dignity intact.

Koh was also told that if he was to continue leading Gerakan, the party will be routed in the next general election.

“If you were to step down after the next election, you would go down disgracefully. Now you decide which way you want it,” the leader is said to have told his president.

Even though he was Penang Chief Minister from 1990 till 2008, there was always dissent within the party.

Lame duck leader

The electoral drubbing suffered by Gerakan in the last election, in which the party lost its Penang power base, accelerated the internal opposition against Koh.

Koh is seen as a politician who is like a fish out of water-especially with his indecisiveness over major issues.

Penang members recall Koh’s failure to solve the state leadership crisis which led to an extraordinary general meeting in October where there was an unsuccessful motion of no confidence against Dr Teng.

Party members also criticized Koh’s political game in deciding on who should replace him in the state BN.

They accused him of deliberately pitting the younger Teng against Ong.

Observers predicted that whoever takes over from Koh as president would have a tough time in cleaning up political baggage left behind by the former chief minister.