Penang Gerakan vice-chairperson Ong Thean Lye is not very happy being labelled Koh Tsu Koon 2, who today announced he would not be contesting in the coming general elections.

However, despite clear indications and a declaration of willingness, Koh, the Gerakan president, is yet to announce he is quitting as Penang BN chief.

ong thean lye Being compared to Koh is akin to being perceived by many as 'soft and indecisive', a label one can easily do without, as the 13th general election looms large on the horizons.

Ong ( left ) denied he was in any way like Koh, as described in a recent report in the media, which speculated that Umno preferred him to Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow, to take over the state BN leadership.

It has reported that BN partners prefer Ong to Teng, who sometimes comes across as a tough talker and is not a "yes man".

But Teng, who is state Gerakan vice-chief, is said to be Koh's choice to lead the BN coalition in Penang, although no announcement has been made as yet.

"Replying to a recent report (in a Chinese newspaper) with regard to me being labelled as KTK2, I would like to state that I am a party man, as such I abide by the party's decision," said Ong, who is also Koh's political secretary.

"However I would like to state that I know when to say ‘yes' or ‘no'. I also know when and how to react . And I don't over react. I don't wish to be branded or labelled. I am what I am," he stressed.

'Koh's wayang kulit'

Koh, a federal minister, started a new round of controversy when he recently said he was willing to give up his post as state BN chief to a leader who was acceptable to the BN coalition.

teng chang yeow gerakan secretary general When Koh delayed announcing a successor although he had met Teng ( left ) twice over the matter, critics speculated that Umno was behind the former's indecision to name a candidate.

Umno was blamed as the decision to appoint a state BN leader rests in the hands of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is BN and Umno president.

After much pressure, Koh said he would announce matters related to reforms and renewal of Gerakan, including addressing the direction of Malaysians, today in Kuala Lumpur, which he did.

Meanwhile, a Gerakan grassroots leader, Yeap Ban Choon, said that Koh's announcement is another "wayang kulit by the tai chi master" to remain as a minister but let the party carry the baggage on his behalf.

The outspoken Yeap is a spokesperson of the geraklah Gerakan movement which was instrumental in state party chief Dr Teng Hock Nan facing a vote of no confidence in an emergency general meeting last year.

Yeap had speculated last night that Koh will announce a slew of party reforms headed by his deputy president at today's meeting.

"He will also announce that he is sitting out of the GE to pave way for new blood but remain as party president and minister," he wrote, in Facebook last night.

When a commentator asked how he got the information, Yeap joked "Let's say I am a mind reader and a fortune teller".

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