Group: Keng Yaik's quitting due to personal agenda
A group of new and young members from Gerakan has publicly questioned the intention of former party advisor Lim Keng Yaik for throwing in his resignation notice before the party's emergency general meeting in Penang.
While the members welcomed Lim's resignation, the group's spokesperson Rich Too said they felt his timing was inappropriate as the state leadership was trying to resolve a leadership crisis through the EGM on Oct 10 (this Sunday).
Delegates at the EGM will eventually decide in line with democratic principles in the party's constitution if Dr Teng Hock Nan will stay or be ousted as state Gerakan chief.
“What he did was not good for the party; it is bound to create some problems as it shows he (Lim) has a personal agenda,” said Too (left) during a press conference in Penang today.
He was accompanied by two other young members - Dr Melvin Chin and Ng Say King - who are also the party's deputy publicity chief and state Youth vice-chairman respectively, but maintained that they were are the press event in their personal capacity.
However, Too could not elaborate on what he meant by 'personal agenda' but said that the former Gerakan president's statement criticising his successor Dr Koh Tsu Koon for not following his instructions is unacceptable.
“If we have to follow the advisor's instruction, then why do we need a chairman? Lim has given (others) a wrong perception of the party,” said Too, who is also state Gerakan publicity bureau chairman. “The chairman has the right to make decisions after he consults with the members,” he added.
Too said members were disappointed with Lim for saying in the media in February this year that the party could not regain any seats in Penang.
“This statement has become a burden for the party in Penang. No matter what activity we do for the people, we are told not to talk too much as your party advisor has said you cannot regain your lost seats,” said Too.
“He put the party in a bad light; so we hope with his resignation, something positive can happen; now we do not have to carry his baggage, we can try to bring the party forward again,” he added.
Lim resigned as advisor yesterday and claimed that Koh was not proactive in resolving many issues affecting the party, and that he acted “akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground”.
Lim's decision came in the wake of Koh saying he could not attend the Penang Gerakan EGM on Sunday.
New members accepted party's ideology
Too said new members who joined Gerakan before and after March 2008 did so not because of any 'superstars' in the leadership.
He added that they joined the party because they “believed and accepted” the party's ideology.
He urged leaders to refrain from playing “political tricks” to influence members but instead told them to serve the people and show what the party can do for the country.
“We hope after Lim step down, he does not bring into the party the culture of other ex-party leaders who try to interfere in party work; we hope Lim can set a good example,” said Too.
Meanwhile, Too warned Lim that his actions may affect the political future of his son, Lim Si Pin, within the party.
He said that Si Pin (right), who is national Youth chief, had been trying very hard to get out of his father's shadow but the latter's recent outburst in the media may be counterproductive to his (Si Pin's) efforts.
“We support him (Si Pin); he has a good character. We hope this issue does not affect our national Youth wing; we have a long way to go,” said Too.
“Do not forger that the voices of the Youths and new members are important because it is us who will move the party forward in the future,” he added.
While the members welcomed Lim's resignation, the group's spokesperson Rich Too said they felt his timing was inappropriate as the state leadership was trying to resolve a leadership crisis through the EGM on Oct 10 (this Sunday).
Delegates at the EGM will eventually decide in line with democratic principles in the party's constitution if Dr Teng Hock Nan will stay or be ousted as state Gerakan chief.
“What he did was not good for the party; it is bound to create some problems as it shows he (Lim) has a personal agenda,” said Too (left) during a press conference in Penang today.
He was accompanied by two other young members - Dr Melvin Chin and Ng Say King - who are also the party's deputy publicity chief and state Youth vice-chairman respectively, but maintained that they were are the press event in their personal capacity.
However, Too could not elaborate on what he meant by 'personal agenda' but said that the former Gerakan president's statement criticising his successor Dr Koh Tsu Koon for not following his instructions is unacceptable.
“If we have to follow the advisor's instruction, then why do we need a chairman? Lim has given (others) a wrong perception of the party,” said Too, who is also state Gerakan publicity bureau chairman. “The chairman has the right to make decisions after he consults with the members,” he added.
Too said members were disappointed with Lim for saying in the media in February this year that the party could not regain any seats in Penang.
“This statement has become a burden for the party in Penang. No matter what activity we do for the people, we are told not to talk too much as your party advisor has said you cannot regain your lost seats,” said Too.
“He put the party in a bad light; so we hope with his resignation, something positive can happen; now we do not have to carry his baggage, we can try to bring the party forward again,” he added.
Lim resigned as advisor yesterday and claimed that Koh was not proactive in resolving many issues affecting the party, and that he acted “akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground”.
Lim's decision came in the wake of Koh saying he could not attend the Penang Gerakan EGM on Sunday.
New members accepted party's ideology
Too said new members who joined Gerakan before and after March 2008 did so not because of any 'superstars' in the leadership.
He added that they joined the party because they “believed and accepted” the party's ideology.
He urged leaders to refrain from playing “political tricks” to influence members but instead told them to serve the people and show what the party can do for the country.
“We hope after Lim step down, he does not bring into the party the culture of other ex-party leaders who try to interfere in party work; we hope Lim can set a good example,” said Too.
Meanwhile, Too warned Lim that his actions may affect the political future of his son, Lim Si Pin, within the party.
He said that Si Pin (right), who is national Youth chief, had been trying very hard to get out of his father's shadow but the latter's recent outburst in the media may be counterproductive to his (Si Pin's) efforts.
“We support him (Si Pin); he has a good character. We hope this issue does not affect our national Youth wing; we have a long way to go,” said Too.
“Do not forger that the voices of the Youths and new members are important because it is us who will move the party forward in the future,” he added.
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