Gerakan AGM 2007

Issues of grave concern to be discussed in Gerakan AGM
Giam Say Khoon
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 4, 2007): Gerakan's three-day National Delegates Conference (NDC) which starts tomorrow will see about 1,800 members raising issues of concern that could affect the performance of the party in the next general elections.

However, the issues will be tackled subtly in the guise of explaining and promoting the Rukun Negara, Federal Constitution, Vision 2020 and the National Mission - all contentious topics that can be sensitive to some, if not all.

The absence of former party president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik will also be gossiped on the sidelines. Lim is recovering in hospital from prostate surgery.

Acting party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon told a pre-NDC media briefing yesterday that he would be leading the delegates to recite the Rukun Negara - a first for the Gerakan's annual conference.

He said a 40-page booklet, published in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Tamil, highlighting the spirit,principles, framework and programmes contained in the four national documents - the Rukun Negara, Federal Constitution, Vision 2020 and the National Mission - will be given to the delegates for distribution.

The party has printed 6,000 copies for each language.

Koh said he believed the documents have and will continue to provide the foundation for nationhood, nation-building and problem-solving in a plural society.

When asked whether Gerakan would be seen as confrontational as MCA Youth's Federal Constitution-waving and Umno Youth's keris-waving stunts, Koh said:

"We do not want to raise the Constitution (like what MCA Youth did in its annual general meeting in August) in response to the raising of the keris or Malay dagger (at the Umno Youth AGM last year).

"We are not confining ourselves to the Constitution. We feel that Rukun Negara is a very eloquent elaboration of the Constitution. We have included the four documents in our booklet to serve as a reference."

Asked whether he would be announcing to the delegates his decision on whether to remain in Penang or move to federal in the next general elections, Koh said: "That will come before the next general elections. I'm still looking for the inspiration to decide."

Koh also said the allocation of seats and candidates would not be discussed at the NDC.

"Gerakan won 10 out of 12 parliamentary seats and 30 out of 31 state seats it contested in the last general elections. I do not expect a change in the number of seats to be contested by the party," he added.

However, Koh said there is a possibility the party would be switching constituencies with Barisan National component parties and feature one to four new faces.

Asked whether the delegates would be discussing strategies to reduce a swing in the Chinese votes to the Opposition, Koh said: "I will answer that after the NDC."

On the resignation of a party veteran Lai Fook Kong in Penang, Koh said: "We are saddened by his resignation but we respect his views. I do not want to criticise anyone, including the opposition. No one is perfect, if he thinks I am not doing good enough, I will work harder to be better."

Lai had on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party, saying that he was disappointed with Koh for failing to contribute enough as the state chief minister.

Koh said: "He resigned because of personal reasons."

Updated: 07:15PM Thu, 04 Oct 2007