Master-disciple fallout in Gerakan

For the past three-and-a-half years, Gerakan adviser Dr Lim Keng Yaik has been watching closely how his protege Koh Tsu Koon has been running the party, which suffered badly in the 2008 general election.

From time to time, Lim ( above ) has been playing a povital role, advising the Gerakan on many issues related to the party and its leadership, much of this behind closed doors.

Those close to these two leaders have described their relationship as akin to that of father and son. However, of late it has become open secret that Lim is uncomfortable and "much in pain" with Koh's style of leadership.

Party sources said that in the past few months, more and more leaders and members have voiced their frustration with Koh's leadership.

"They even blame KY (Keng Yaik) for passing the baton to Koh. Some CC (Central Committee) members have openly told KY that they are very unhappy with Koh," said a party insider.

In fact, the source said, the complaints were not limited to party  issues but also concerned how certain matters related to the management of Menara PGRM, the car park, Wawasan Open University and Gerakan's property management arm Cempaka Sdn Bhd were being handled.

Lim is said to be unhappy that the party leadership has failed to turn the road between Menara PGRM 1 and PGRM 2 into a one-way street so that the place could become a prime location for people to hang out.

A CC member, who did not wish to be named, said the party had lost what he termed as "simple income" from the nearby car park and that Koh had not acted on it.

"This has also angered many party members, especially the life members, the founders of the party who still have some control over the party assets," he said.

Plotting for an EGM in Perak

Lim, when asked about these matters, did acknowledge that they were among the issues he was unhappy about, but he did not want to elaborate.

Lim said he only told his son Lim Si Pin ( left ), who is Gerakan Youth chief, that he was going to drop the bombshell by quitting as party adviser, just before he left his house in Tropicana to attend a scheduled press conference at Wawasan Open University.

"I didn't tell anybody. I never talked to Koh about my plan to quit," he said, adding that the last meeting he had with Koh was two weeks ago.

However, he refused to reveal what transpired during the meeting.

Lim said he had received information that certain leaders had been plotting EGMs in Perak and Penang to oust the party leaders of the two states, who are known to be close to Koh.

The Penang Gerakan EGM this Sunday was called following the failure of the party leadership to persuade a group of members to withdraw their request to table a vote of no confidence against the current state chairperson Teng Hock Nan.

Teng ( right ), 64, who is also a party vice-president, is known to be a close ally of Koh.

"One or two party leaders in Penang are assessing the situation, not knowing whether they will get to be chairman but are simply trying to test the waters. As to who they are... you have to guess," Teng said.

In light of this situation, Lim warned that he might take more drastic action if there were also efforts to hold similar EGMs in the other states.

"Don't forget that the life members and party founders are behind  me. Many things can be done," he added.

- Bernama