ALOR STAR: Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon advised party members not to be blinded by emotion when they make decisions.
The former Penang chief minister said they should instead be rational in their judgment.

"Gerakan is always open to opinions, especially suggestions to revive the party and the Barisan Nasional coalition.

"Whatever their opinions are, members should analyse the situation as well as take into consideration the current political scenario and the strength of the party when making decisions," he said after opening the Kedah Gerakan delegates conference here yesterday.

Koh said this when asked to comment on a motion by the Kedah Gerakan Youth calling on the party to consider leaving the Barisan Nasional if racial and religious issues could not be resolved by the ruling coalition.
"Certain quarters had made the call for the party to leave the ruling coalition. But it was only a small number that made the call.

"The majority of members still want the party to stay in the BN and help to revive and strengthen the coalition."

The motion was passed at the party's Kedah Youth wing annual meeting here on Thursday.

Its chief, Tan Keng Liang, said in a written statement that Gerakan was fighting for the rights of all people regardless of race and religion.

"If the BN could not defend the rights of all races in Malaysia, then the national Gerakan leaders should consider leaving the coalition."

Meanwhile, Derga state assemblyman Dr Cheah Soon Hai is the new state Gerakan liaison committee chairman.

Cheah, who was the committee's assistant secretary, defeated secretary Datuk Ch'ng Boon Chye. Cheah polled 121 votes against Ch'ng's 110 at the Kedah delegates conference here yesterday.

The post became vacant after former Derga state assemblyman, Datuk Fong Chok Gin, who was also the state health committee chairman, relinquished the post.