The prime minister has accepted my decision, says the Gerakan president, and promises more dramatic events to unfold.
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan president, Koh Tsu Koon, today announced that he will not be contesting any parliamentary or state seat in the upcoming 13th general election.
“This is a personal decision,” he told the media during a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters this morning.
“But it has been discussed several times within the Central Working Committee and the Central Committee. I have already informed prime minister Najib Tun Razak who has accepted and respected my decision.”
Koh clarified that he would retain his other positions as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Gerakan president and Penang BN chairman. He however added that his presidency post would be up for discussion after the general election.
“I have also made a decision on my Penang post which I will convey and further discuss with the prime minister,” Koh said.
“As for my ministerial post I look at it as an opportunity and responsibility to serve the people of Malaysia but I don’t cling on to this post for my own personal sake.
“But this is also the perogative of the prime minister,” he said.
The former Penang chief minister also waved off calls from supporters to battle it out with current Penang chief minister, Lim Guan Eng, for the Bagan seat as “unnecessary”.
When asked whether he would be seen as bowing out without a fight, Koh shot back, “I have fought seven elections and most of them very tough fights.”
“So go back to history and read about what happened in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1995. I’m also the only person who has fought (Ipoh Timur MP) Lim Kit Siang twice – in 1986 and 1995.”
Koh said that his non-participating in the general election would allow him to focus on party strategy, strenghtening party machinery, deciding on the candidate line-up and coordinating publicity.
New agenda for Gerakan
He then unveiled the party’s new agenda, “Gerak Bersama Rakyat” (Move With The People), which will be implemented within a month.
The agenda, based on Gerakan’s ideology and track record and the 1Malaysia concept, is being formulated by a special taskforce led by deputy president, Chang Ko Youn.
“Gerakan’s transformation and renewal will now shift into high gear,” he said. “And I am leading by example and taking the first step toward this renewal by not participating in the general election.”
“The shift also means the start of the leadership renewel where our second echolons will be given more opportunities to play a bigger role.”
He however declined to name these young leaders and said that their identities would become apparent over the next few months as they began “walking the talk”.
“People will know that Gerakan is in high gear because there has already been an increasing tempo of activities from Kedah to Sabah,” Koh stated.
“And we have been taking stands on issues like electoral reforms, the Internal Securities Act (ISA) and the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).”
Drama to continue
Koh also dismissed reports in a mainstream daily that has recently been attacking Gerakan as a “party full of problems”.
He reminded the media that every political party has its problems and pointedly said that if he chose to comment on other major parties he would have a lot more to say.
Koh further disputed any expected changes in party leadership positions ahead of the general election and emphasised that all leadership posts within Gerakan are elected ones.
“We are different from other major component parties where the state chairman is appointed by the president,” he said. “All our state chairmen are elected.”
Asked if his pulling out of the general election is the end or pinnacle of his political career, Koh laughed and replied, “Wait for more dramatic events to unfold.”
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan president, Koh Tsu Koon, today announced that he will not be contesting any parliamentary or state seat in the upcoming 13th general election.“This is a personal decision,” he told the media during a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters this morning.
“But it has been discussed several times within the Central Working Committee and the Central Committee. I have already informed prime minister Najib Tun Razak who has accepted and respected my decision.”
Koh clarified that he would retain his other positions as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Gerakan president and Penang BN chairman. He however added that his presidency post would be up for discussion after the general election.
“I have also made a decision on my Penang post which I will convey and further discuss with the prime minister,” Koh said.
“As for my ministerial post I look at it as an opportunity and responsibility to serve the people of Malaysia but I don’t cling on to this post for my own personal sake.
“But this is also the perogative of the prime minister,” he said.
The former Penang chief minister also waved off calls from supporters to battle it out with current Penang chief minister, Lim Guan Eng, for the Bagan seat as “unnecessary”.
When asked whether he would be seen as bowing out without a fight, Koh shot back, “I have fought seven elections and most of them very tough fights.”
“So go back to history and read about what happened in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1995. I’m also the only person who has fought (Ipoh Timur MP) Lim Kit Siang twice – in 1986 and 1995.”
Koh said that his non-participating in the general election would allow him to focus on party strategy, strenghtening party machinery, deciding on the candidate line-up and coordinating publicity.
New agenda for Gerakan
He then unveiled the party’s new agenda, “Gerak Bersama Rakyat” (Move With The People), which will be implemented within a month.
The agenda, based on Gerakan’s ideology and track record and the 1Malaysia concept, is being formulated by a special taskforce led by deputy president, Chang Ko Youn.
“Gerakan’s transformation and renewal will now shift into high gear,” he said. “And I am leading by example and taking the first step toward this renewal by not participating in the general election.”
“The shift also means the start of the leadership renewel where our second echolons will be given more opportunities to play a bigger role.”
He however declined to name these young leaders and said that their identities would become apparent over the next few months as they began “walking the talk”.
“People will know that Gerakan is in high gear because there has already been an increasing tempo of activities from Kedah to Sabah,” Koh stated.
“And we have been taking stands on issues like electoral reforms, the Internal Securities Act (ISA) and the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).”
Drama to continue
Koh also dismissed reports in a mainstream daily that has recently been attacking Gerakan as a “party full of problems”.
He reminded the media that every political party has its problems and pointedly said that if he chose to comment on other major parties he would have a lot more to say.
Koh further disputed any expected changes in party leadership positions ahead of the general election and emphasised that all leadership posts within Gerakan are elected ones.
“We are different from other major component parties where the state chairman is appointed by the president,” he said. “All our state chairmen are elected.”
Asked if his pulling out of the general election is the end or pinnacle of his political career, Koh laughed and replied, “Wait for more dramatic events to unfold.”
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