Keng Yaik may have felt 'irrelevant'

Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik is quitting his position as party adviser because he was not consulted on the leadership crisis in Penang.As a senior leader, he is said to have been slighted that his opinion was not considered relevant any more by the party, especially by his handpicked successor Koh Tsu Koon.Lim, who said he would be sending in his resignation letter today, had once declared Koh as his "trump card" and was pleased to see the latter succeed him as party chief in 2007.

But now, long-time party members say, they were kept in the dark as to whether Lim had been updated on the crisis looming in Penang, where the state Gerakan will hold an EGM on Sunday in a bid to remove state chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan .For a crisis such as this, which threatens to engulf the national leadership, Lim could play a role as mediator, they said.Party secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow said he was not aware of what transpired between Lim and Koh to result in Lim's sudden decision.Koh has not even briefed party leaders if he had sought Lim's advice on the current crisis, Chang Yeow added when contacted. "All we know is that the party adviser sounds very upset. We hope he will reconsider his decision."

In announcing his resignation yesterday, Lim said he was unhappy with Koh, who he said did not take a proactive approach in resolving many issues affecting the party, despite being advised on many occasions. Koh's attitude has also been criticised as being "akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground".Lim's decision came in the wake of Koh saying he could not attend Sunday's Penang Gerakan EGM, which could see members voting Teng out. Malaysiakini was not able to get any response from Teng despite repeated calls and SMSes.Koh announced yesterday that he would not attend the EGM as he would have to be present at the MCA annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur the same day.
'EGM a state matter'

Meanwhile, former Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan said Lim should not be so upset about Koh, as the latter, as party president, should be allowed to make his own decisions.Huan said the EGM was a state matter and as the president, Koh needed to perform his national duties, such as attending a coalition partner's AGM."If Lim wants to resign, he should just do so and not condemn Koh. "He is just the adviser, and whether people want to listen to his advice or not, it is up to them," Huan told Malaysiakini.

He said Lim's withdrawal from the adviser's post would not have any impact on the party as the struggle would go on, just as it did when he (Huan) left to establish Parti Cinta Malaysia.Huan, who is PCM vice-president, said he acknowledged what Lim had done for Gerakan, but reiterated that Lim should not dictate what the president should or should not do."When you retire, please retire properly and focus on something else (such as family matters) and let Koh handle the party as he wants," he said as advice to Lim.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/144401