Gerakan president Lim Keng Yaik again made references to Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin by labelling him an opportunist for attacking his deputy, Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

"Taking potshots against a Chinese chief minister of Penang reflected that these leaders were (of) low standards," he said at the tail-end of the 35th Gerakan National Delegates Conference today.

Lim said the criticisms against the Gerakan-led state government were taken out of context by those who did not realise that such comments can break the unity in Barisan Nasional. He, however, did not name the culprits.

"I think it is (political) opportunism in their haste to climb up the political ladder (by intending to) become heroes of their own race," he said at a press conference held at Gerakan headquarters in Cheras' Menara PGRM.

Yesterday, Umno Youth deputy leader Khairy accused the predominantly Chinese Gerakan government for neglecting the Malays, resulting in them being confined to the island's Balik Pulau while the rest are forced to settle in the mainland's Butterworth and neighbouring Kedah's Sungai Petani.

Balik Pulau is a hilly agriculture area west of Penang island populated by mostly Malays. Penang's 1.2 million population is made up of about 60 percent Chinese Malaysians, 32 percent Malay Malaysians and seven percent Indian Malaysians.

According to Khairy, the marginalisation of the minority Malays in the island was why Umno had raised the issue of rotating the Penang chief minister post so that their rights could be safeguarded.

But Lim argued that such criticisms from a fellow member in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition were not right.

He said that there were proper channels within the coalition to discuss such issues internally instead of raising the matter openly.

"If Gerakan members of any ethnic group take things out of context and made an issue out of race I will be the first to stop them," he noted.

Lim's smoking habit

However, Lim's retained his renowned sense of humour at his presidential closing speech today, telling jokes which left the party delegates in stitches.

At one point, he held up a photo depicting him smoking a cigarette which was taken by one of the local dailies.

"I was nice to the press but instead of protecting me, they taruh (play up) me. Even this morning, my wife taruh me as well," he said, drawing roars of laughter from the crowd.

Lim, who is a habitual smoker, proceeded to advise young politicians to be careful when dealing with the media.

"Don't show them when your pants are down. They will take a picture and post it on the front-page."

Lim, who will step down on April 8 next year, told the audience that he had four more tasks to handle before he retires:

To take up a lifetime membership in the party and be on the veteran council.

To push for the expansion of the party's Wawasan Open University.

To participate in road shows at Gerakan's upcoming national dialogue to teach party members how to combat racial politics.

To watch over the party so that it remains 'on stream' and 'on line'.