PETALING JAYA (Jan 7, 2008): Penangites may see another round of titanic "Clash of titans" in the next general elections between Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) - with Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng locking horns in the Jelutong parliamentary seat.
Gerakan insiders say their Acting President had little choice but to make a move to federal. And Jelutong, now held by deputy secretary-general and Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon, is one seat Koh is eyeing.
However, DAP insiders told theSun Lim is almost certain to contest in Penang and is also considering Jelutong.
They say Lim is prepared to risk losing his bid for a parliamentary seat in Jelutong because at stake are 11 state seats which the party felt it had a fair chance of winning. Lim is actually in a dilemma, a close party associate revealed.
"No. He (Lim) is not afraid of accusations of (him) running away from Malacca or some nonsense like that. DAP lost Kota Melaka to MCA by 200 plus votes, it lost in Jelutong by about 15,000 votes. So which is easier?
"But as secretary-general, he has to see the bigger picture. To remain in Malacca, the best that he can do is win back Kota Melaka and perhaps win another two or three state seats in Malacca.
"Penang has 11 state seats which the party has a realistic chance of winning with a credible and high-profile politician leading the pack. His dilemma is the risk of losing his bid to be a parliamentarian and also risk DAP losing Kota Melaka again. He is also the best man with the best chance of winning back Kota Melaka," said the source.
According to Gerakan insiders, the state party leadership has studied the political situation and is preparing for a confrontation with a Guan Eng-led DAP in Penang in the 12th General Election.
"The leadership is not taking the matter lightly because their assessment is that Guan Eng is heading for Penang. How much clout and influence he wields with the voters is unknown.
"It's would be wise to be prepared when facing an untested force in Penang politics. That was how Gerakan rose in 1969," he added.
The party insider said Koh is not talking because he needs to keep his sucession plan till the very last minute to avoid jostling from the various quarters.
That plan has been the subject of gossip in the party since he took over the party as Acting President in 2006 and is being monitored by party grassroots and leaders.
It was no surprise then that they are now trying to read, perhaps too much, into the reason why Koh officially asked Teng Chang Yeow to represent him in the New Year countdown on Penang Island and Lee in the countdown in Auto City on the mainland. What is the message Koh is trying to send?
"What is almost finalised is that Lee will replace (four-term state excutive councillor and controversial Machang Bubok assemblyman) Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon who is retiring. That makes Lee a strong contender for the Chief Ministership," he said.
Lee is seen as a possible compromise candidate to succeed Koh as Chief Minister because Koh favours his former polictical secretary Teng while party adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik is pushing for secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye. Teng is completing his first term as a state executive councillor while Chia is the Deputy Information Minister.
The insiders pointed out that Koh is comfortable with both Lee and Teng but the latter's somewhat thorny relations with state Umno leaders could be the influencing factor in the final decision.
The talk in the party now is that Koh may also adopt the "delaying tactic" by appointing 62-year-old Gerakan vice-president and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan to succeed him and wait for an opportune time to make another leadership change in Penang.
In another development , party insiders say Koh is also provided the opportunity to avoid a clash with Lim in Jelutong as first-term Batu Kawan MP Huan Cheng Guan is lobbying for the Bukit Tambum state seat now held by Lai Chew Hock who is likely to be dropped. That gives Koh the safer Batu Kawan.
tunku : koh should fight with lim guan eng, finish him in penang once and for all.if you had served the penangites well, why worry....or you have not?
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3 comments:
Tunku,
from your comment obviously your heart still with BN, I definitely believe your vote will be for BN in the election but I dont understand your blog always critising the government....
Is this your wayang or just playing some good fun?
Life are getting tougher now, everythings are skyrocketting!
It is weird some of us are all out championing several issues, even setting their own blog to disagree with the government but..............
at the end still kissing the government hand!
TDM once said "orang Melayu memberi undi tanpa ikut akal, tunggul kayu pun mereka pangkah"
I always believe BN will win more than two third this coming election because they have voters like you!
Ali Akbar Bin Hashim
ALI AKHBAR HASHIM,
first of all,i'm not like the opposition supporters, always "licking"their leaders and party although the party is doing something wrong,they support blindly.
second, my vote is confidential,hahahaha like you always hear it.no one is paying me to make "wayang"
third, i have never kiss any leaders hand till date but Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife.I met pak lah 4 times in functions and dinners but i never kiss his hand.
fourth, TDM said it right "org melayu memberi undi tanpa ikut akal, tunggul kayu pun mereka pangkah", it goes the same to opposition members.i'm not one of them.
last but not least, yes somehow my heart is still with umno and bn, because i believe in the party's struggles but not their leaders. sad to say, there are non capable opposition in malaysia till date that can make a different. the one we are having todays are far worst than the bn.at least bn had done so much for the nation compare with the opposition. why don't you form a new party ali akhbar hashim.if you are good , i dont mind voting for you.by the way i have a friend named ali akhbar(org pakistan).
I think he has served enough. :-)
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