Gerakan To Quit Barisan Nasional ?

Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the acting president of Gerakan is mulling about quitting the Barisan Nasional coalition caused by recent sentiments, among it the defiant Ahmad Ismail factor as well as losing confidence on BN leadership.

Many seen Gerakan's move as following the footsteps of UPKO from Sabah who is sending a strong signal to Barisan Nasional to quit the coalition as well as SAPP from Sabah who has already out of Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile, leaders from other BN component party is treating Gerakan as parti perosak (party spoilers) or kudis (lice) and demand Gerakan to make it's stand. BN is right in wanting a stronger coalition and Gerakan is another prick in the butt. As for Gerakan itself, there is no great return if they just keeping saying it. Instead, they should prove something to BN and just quit the BN coalition. No want a fence sitter.

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From TheStar

Dr Koh considering the possibility of party leaving Barisan Nasional
By LISA GOH

KUALA LUMPUR: Leaving the Barisan Nasional and joining Pakatan Rakyat is one of the three options being considered by Gerakan.

Party acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the two other options were to stay with the ruling coalition or leave and be independent.

“We are not ruling out any possibility (of leaving) at this moment. We have to assess but we are not closing the door.

“Neither are we saying we will definitely leave. It’s something we need to assess but we cannot do it based on sentiments alone,” he told reporters after launching the KL-Federal Territory (FT) state delegates conference here yesterday.

“If you go on sentiments alone, I would say more than 60% (want to leave) but we are taking a lot of factors into consideration. A decision cannot be based just on sentiments.”

He added that party leaders were examining how the political scenario in the country would continue to change and had been getting feedback from the grassroots.

“It’s a very trying time and there is need for a lot of rational, objective analysis. It cannot be a straightforward, simplistic decision,” he said.

In his opening speech, Dr Koh announced that he would be contesting for the party presidency in the October party elections.

“I am offering myself for the post, but I have also set a time-frame for myself, and it is unlikely that I will go beyond two terms.

“I would like to have younger and newer leaders to continue the process of political commitment,” he said.

Asked if he would name his deputy, he replied: “We will let the delegates decide.”

On some 20 FT Gerakan members defecting to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Dr Koh expressed surprise.

“It was only last week that (former Setiawangsa Gerakan chief) Li Tiam Chai was with me in a meeting and there were no signs that he was not happy.

“We were talking about how to strengthen the party.

“So, I am surprised but I will continue with the veterans,” he said.

On the Umno leadership transition, Dr Koh said he hoped it would be “smooth and peaceful.”

“Even though it is an internal party matter, we are also concerned because the Umno leader becomes the leader of Barisan and the Federal Government,” he said.

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From TheStar

Gerakan mulls quitting Barisan, may join Pakatan
By LISA GOH

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan is considering the option of leaving Barisan Nasional and joining the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this was among three options for the party - the other two being to either stay with the ruling coalition, or leave and become independent.

“We are not ruling out any possibility at this moment. We have to assess the situation, but we are not closing any doors.

“Neither are we saying we will definitely leave. It’s something we need to assess but we cannot do it based on sentiments alone,” he told reporters after launching the KL-Federal Territory (FT) state delegates conference here on Sunday.

Dr Koh said the party was examining how the political scenario in the country would continue to change, and had been getting feedback from the grassroots.

“If you go on sentiments alone, I would say more than 60% (want us to leave), but we are taking a lot of factors into consideration, and a decision cannot be based just on sentiments.

“It’s a very trying time, and there is need for a lot of rational, objective analysis. It cannot be a straightforward simplistic decision,” he said.

In his opening speech, Dr Koh also announced that he would be contesting for the president’s post in the October party elections.

“I am offering myself for the post, but I also set a timeframe for myself, and it is unlikely that I will go beyond two terms. I would like to have younger and newer leaders to continue the process of political commitment,” he said.

Asked if he would name his deputy, he replied: “We will let the delegates decide.”

He was also asked to comment on some 20 FT Gerakan members who had defected to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), including former FT Gerakan information bureau chief Gan Kok Keng and former Setiawangsa Gerakan chief Li Tiam Chai.

“I feel surprised because it was only last week when Li Tiam Chai was with me in a meeting and there were no signs that he was not happy.

“We were talking about how to strengthen the party. So I am surprised but I will continue with the veterans, and new members are committed,” he said.

Dr Koh also commented on the Umno leadership transition, which he hoped would be “smooth and peaceful.”

“Even though the change in Umno leadership is an internal party matter, but we are also concerned because the Umno leader also becomes the leader of Barisan and the Federal Government,” he said.

Earlier this month, Gerakan became embroiled in the controversy over former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s alleged racist remarks in which he purportedly described Malaysian Chinese as “squatters.”

Gerakan leaders had demanded an apology and for action to be taken against the Umno man, who in turn blamed Gerakan for Barisan’s poor showing in the March 8 general election, which saw the state of Penang fall to to the opposition.

The war of words even saw Ahmad’s supporters tearing down a picture of Dr Koh after a press conference.

The Umno Supreme Council subsequently suspended Ahmad from his party posts for three years, although he remains a member. No further action was taken against him.

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From TheStar

Barisan leaders to Gerakan chief: Make a stand!
By CHRISTINA CHIN and ANN TAN

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional leaders want Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to make a stand on the party’s position in the coalition.

Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah said the former chief minister must determine the direction of his party.

“As a leader, he must be responsible to the coalition. He needs to set the course for Gerakan and make his position clear. After all, a fish rots from the head down.

“I regret that we have parti perosak (party spoilers) within Barisan. These factions can leave if they want to,” he said.

On Sunday, Dr Koh said among the options being considered by the party was to join Pakatan Rakyat; to stay with the ruling coalition; or to leave Barisan and become independent.

He said based on party sentiment, more than 60% wanted to leave Barisan but the party was still assessing the situation.

State MCA deputy chief Datuk Lau Chiek Tuan said Dr Koh should disclose his personal stand.

“Don’t hide behind members’ opinions. Tell us what you want - you are the party’s acting president,” he said.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong thinks the party should give Barisan “one or two years” before deciding.

Oh, who is gunning for the party’s number two post in the national Youth wing, said such an important decision cannot be made in a “hot political” climate.

“All Barisan component parties are going through trying times. Let’s wait for the Umno leadership transition to see if the relationship between coalition parties can improve.

“The next general election would probably be in 2012. We can always call for an emergency general meeting in one or two years time if we want to pull out of Barisan - it’s not too late,” he said, adding that party members should not be hasty.