Gerakan Pledges To Do More For Penang Residents

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is asking Penang voters to give the party another chance at the 13th general election to serve them.

He said Gerakan was determined to do more and better to change the fate of the people in the state.

Koh who described the state as a Gerakan stronghold for 40 years before losing in the 2008 general election as the heart of Gerakan, said the heart and mind of Gerakan had always been with the state and people of Penang.

"We are asking for a chance to serve. We aim to do a lot more in Penang. If we are really with one heart, the people will give us the chance," he said in his presidential address at Gerakan's 41st National Delegates Conference which was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here today.

Therefore, Koh, who is the former Chief Minister of Penang, urged Gerakan members at all levels to close ranks and put aside their differences to ensure the victory of Gerakan and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the 13th general election.

"The 13th general election will see fierce fights but we're not afraid. Let us put up the best possible. Let it be our finest hour," Koh said.

He also told the delegates that Najib was the best leader to push for the country's continued development and stability.

"A section of the community favours the opposition's head but for me, Najib is a far better choice.

He (Najib) is known as a friendly leader and what is important is that he is fair and firm. I can guarantee this, " said Koh.

Koh, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, also touched on education by proposing that national education transformation which will be implemented through the Malaysia Education Blueprint consider several issues.

He said Gerakan wanted bilingual teaching of Science and Mathematics with emphasis on English at the higher forms to prepare students for their further studies.

The other requests forwarded related to students with Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and the subject of history as a compulsory subject in school curriculum.

According to Koh, Gerakan would be organsing a workshop to discuss the issues on the blueprint and would present concrete proposals on the matter to the government.

The party annual conference, attended by 1,760 delegates or 76 per cent of the overall Gerakan delegates, ended today.

Speaking at press conference afterwards, Koh assured that the party's main body and it's youth wing were not facing any conflicts and the "bottle neck" issue raised by the Youth chief yesterday was a minor one.

He described it as a mere 'storm in a small teacup', adding that as a democratic political party, its members are free to air any discontent to the party leadership.

"We don't go and manage and control what they say, they say and we reply, they show some frustration over one incident so we just advise them to take it coolly," he said.

Asked about the issue of warlords in the party, Koh explained that it was over exaggerated.

"It may have happened in one or two divisions but I want to emphasise that Gerakan is a very democratic party and our delegates are elected direct from the main branches and not through divisions, so control by the division is not as strong in Gerakan," he said.

Yesterday, Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Lim Si Pin announced that the wing would not be participating in today's national conference's debate session as a sign of protest to the party's main body because it was being sidelined by the main body.

Koh, meanwhile, also appealed the Gerakan delegates present to continue fighting for the survival of the party.

"Although we suffered defeat in the last election, we whould move on, I appeal the delegates to feel encouraged as our clarion cry (One heart, one nation, one vision) is now a national agenda (1 Malaysia), a national movement," he said.