DAP politically killing off Chinese leaders from other parties, says Gerakan

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan's chairperson Teng Chang Yeow has condemned the DAP for its "do or die" electoral mission to politically kill off Chinese leaders from other parties in the coming 14th general election (GE14).

Saying it is not the question of having guts or being intimidated, but if DAP continues with such political moves, it would eventually ruin the Chinese community as the people would be robbed of talented Malaysian leaders.

Teng said DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang did that in the 1980s and 1990s when he went after the then Penang chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and his successor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

In 1986, Kit Siang defeated Koh. In 1990, he knocked out Chong Eu in what many historians believed was a premature end to the visionary leader's political career.

Teng urged DAP to justify its actions to the community on why there was a need to politically kill off Chinese leaders from other parties. DAP indirectly weakens the community, especially in a multi-ethnic background of Malaysia, he added.

DAP is pitting its young leaders against MCA and Gerakan top leadership with their party strategist Liew Chin Tong going up against MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in the Air Itam parliament in GE14.

Perak DAP leader Nga Kor Ming is likely to go up against Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Mah Siew Keong in the Teluk Intan parliament.

There are also plans to field top DAP leaders against MCA president Liow Tiong Lai in the Bentong parliament.

Teng said the people in Penang are being forced to choose, and in the end they ended up as the losers as they will lose representation and the injection of fresh ideas and energy towards nation building.

He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the formation of Gerakan at its state party headquarters last night.

Earlier, Koh, who was at the event, spoke of how Kit Siang had misled the Chinese community in trying to justify his reasoning for contesting against him and his mentor Chong Eu.

"Kit Siang told the community in 1986 that I was young and would recoup from his move to challenge me. In 1990, he told voters that Chong Eu would be made the Governor (Yang di-Pertua Negri) if he loses. We know it did not happen."

"Kit Siang also said that Chong Eu at the age of 71 was too old. Today, Kit Siang is 77. What about someone contesting at the age of 92?"

Recalling the trying era of Gerakan in Penang, Koh said after his premature political departure in 1990, Chong Eu went on to live for some 20 more years.

"Chong Eu could have easily gone on for two more terms where he would have done more for his beloved Penang. It was not meant to be, but who's at fault."

Koh caused applause when he said that he would now also consider making a political comeback if he reaches the age of 92.

Koh said that never before in Penang history was there so many controversies to emerge from the last ten years.

Sensing that Gerakan was fighting for its long-term political relevancy after losing twice in Penang since 2008, Koh said that the nation's multi-ethnic party was formed because it had the interest of the common folks at heart.

"Hence, you see that since it was formed, none of the top Gerakan leaders has been accused of mismanagement, arrogance or corruption. We have the track record of bringing development to the people."

Later, Koh, who retired in 2013, told theSun that he would consider campaigning for his party during the coming elections

Gerakan is poised to contest 12 state and four parliamentary seats in Penang, the state it had dominated for 40 years from 1969 until 2008.

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