Amid heavy criticism against him, Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon says he is willing to sacrifice himself for the party, but remained silent on certain "tough decisions" he would be making.
KUALA LUMPUR: Embattled Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has pledged to his party members that he was willing to “sacrifice” himself for the sake of the party, amid frustrations that the leader was “soft” and lacked decisiveness.
“Now, as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to tell you today what exactly that I’m going to do, because I still need to do some checking and coordinating…but I’m going to assure you that I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the party,” said Koh in his winding-up speech during the 40th Gerakan National Delegates Conference today.
Koh, who received some applause from delegates when he made the statement towards the end of his speech, however did not specify how he planned to “sacrifice himself”.
“I will sacrifice myself for the party, in what way, and how, I will let you know, because this is a collective leadership.
“I cannot just charge ahead and sacrifice myself without the party to coordinate,” he said.
“We will never run away, once a Gerakanist, always a Gerakanist,” said Koh, who has for the past two days indicated that he would be making some “tough decisions” but would announce them only when the time was appropriate.
Koh vaguely explained that the “sacrifice” would come after “final assessments” by top leadership and himself, and that there were several options.
Not moved by emotions
He stressed that whatever he will decide won’t be based on emotions but pure reason.
“Top leadership is also exploring the possibilities in the interest of the party. Will take into account several different scenarios,” he added.
During his winding up speech, Koh also took pains to explain to delegates why he took more time in making decisions.
“We have different styles. Some people want fast, some people want slow. Slow sometimes more romantic… Its because before I make a decision I want everybody on board because when you make a decision, not everybody can be happy, I’ve seen examples of the past,” said Koh.
“It’s not because we don’t want to make decisions, but we want to hold everyone together,” he said.
Koh also took his hats off to the opposition, especially DAP and PAS, for their “fighting spirit”.
“Whatever I don’t agree with them, with DAP or PAS, we have to admire their fighting spirit when they are down, we have to pay some respect. But I believe that if they can do it, Gerakan can do better,” he said.
Must deliver results
Koh also stressed during his speech that “walking the talk” was not merely making fiery speeches but what mattered was delivering results.
“Gerakan has always been at the forefront of ideas. Gerakan is about principles and maintaining them. Often we are too busy working to publicise ourselves,” he said, adding that often Gerakan leaders in the government were the ones who worked the hardest.
Earlier, party secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow admitted that the burning question most delegates were asking was for the president to make a decision.
“Koh, please lah, make a decision– this is what is in the heart of everyone. But we must remember that Gerakan is a party that makes decision based on consensus,” he said.
Teng also made an indirect comment towards vice-president Tan Lian Hoe’s criticism towards the party president yesterday, saying:
“We should be careful when making statements, we must consider our party’s image. There’s a Malay saying that says we can spit in every direction but we should never spit upwards.”
Vice-president Mah Siew Keong also defended Koh’s “soft” image.
He said: “A president is elected democratically, if you want change, change next year lah”.
Mah also joked about how Koh has his weaknesses but also his strengths.
“I’ve known him very long, very intimately. Don’t take this the wrong way, but Koh can actually be hard lah, but in one week he is not too often hard. You want to see him being hard?”
“Koh, let the delegates see how hard you can be lah!” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Embattled Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has pledged to his party members that he was willing to “sacrifice” himself for the sake of the party, amid frustrations that the leader was “soft” and lacked decisiveness.“Now, as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to tell you today what exactly that I’m going to do, because I still need to do some checking and coordinating…but I’m going to assure you that I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the party,” said Koh in his winding-up speech during the 40th Gerakan National Delegates Conference today.
Koh, who received some applause from delegates when he made the statement towards the end of his speech, however did not specify how he planned to “sacrifice himself”.
“I will sacrifice myself for the party, in what way, and how, I will let you know, because this is a collective leadership.
“I cannot just charge ahead and sacrifice myself without the party to coordinate,” he said.
“We will never run away, once a Gerakanist, always a Gerakanist,” said Koh, who has for the past two days indicated that he would be making some “tough decisions” but would announce them only when the time was appropriate.
Koh vaguely explained that the “sacrifice” would come after “final assessments” by top leadership and himself, and that there were several options.
Not moved by emotions
He stressed that whatever he will decide won’t be based on emotions but pure reason.
“Top leadership is also exploring the possibilities in the interest of the party. Will take into account several different scenarios,” he added.
During his winding up speech, Koh also took pains to explain to delegates why he took more time in making decisions.
“We have different styles. Some people want fast, some people want slow. Slow sometimes more romantic… Its because before I make a decision I want everybody on board because when you make a decision, not everybody can be happy, I’ve seen examples of the past,” said Koh.
“It’s not because we don’t want to make decisions, but we want to hold everyone together,” he said.
Koh also took his hats off to the opposition, especially DAP and PAS, for their “fighting spirit”.
“Whatever I don’t agree with them, with DAP or PAS, we have to admire their fighting spirit when they are down, we have to pay some respect. But I believe that if they can do it, Gerakan can do better,” he said.
Must deliver results
Koh also stressed during his speech that “walking the talk” was not merely making fiery speeches but what mattered was delivering results.
“Gerakan has always been at the forefront of ideas. Gerakan is about principles and maintaining them. Often we are too busy working to publicise ourselves,” he said, adding that often Gerakan leaders in the government were the ones who worked the hardest.
Earlier, party secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow admitted that the burning question most delegates were asking was for the president to make a decision.
“Koh, please lah, make a decision– this is what is in the heart of everyone. But we must remember that Gerakan is a party that makes decision based on consensus,” he said.
Teng also made an indirect comment towards vice-president Tan Lian Hoe’s criticism towards the party president yesterday, saying:
“We should be careful when making statements, we must consider our party’s image. There’s a Malay saying that says we can spit in every direction but we should never spit upwards.”
Vice-president Mah Siew Keong also defended Koh’s “soft” image.
He said: “A president is elected democratically, if you want change, change next year lah”.
Mah also joked about how Koh has his weaknesses but also his strengths.
“I’ve known him very long, very intimately. Don’t take this the wrong way, but Koh can actually be hard lah, but in one week he is not too often hard. You want to see him being hard?”
“Koh, let the delegates see how hard you can be lah!” he said.
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