Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon's scheduled attendance at a BN Youth event in Penang on Oct 10 may again give rise to criticisms that he was trying to avoid confrontation at the party's emergency general meeting on the same day .

lim guan eng koh tsu koon penang land scandal issue 220409 koh tsu koon The EGM will see 393 delegates cast their votes to decide the fate of state chief Teng Hock Nan but Koh ( right ) has announced he will not attend.

When asked if this would be seen as a problem for Koh for appearing as if he has snubbed the EGM for a MCA event in Kuala Lumpur, Gerakan Penang Youth vice-president H'ng Khoon Leng denied the charge, saying that Koh was always solidly behind the wing.

H'ng praised Koh for being a supportive president, adding that all the allegations levelled against him by Dr Lim Keng Yaik were "false and unfair".

He also said that Lim was not very welcomed by 99 percent of the party's delegates in Penang, especially after his criticisms against the state leadership following their heavy loss in the March 2008 election.

He added that mentally, delegates would "throw eggs at Lim if he comes to Penang".

lim keng yaik interview 280408 05 "But Koh is always very supportive of the Youth activities; he is also always willing to work with us. It is not true that he avoids problems as claimed by Lim ( left )," H'ng said.

‘Focus on other issues'

H'ng however said the Youth welcomed Lim's resignation as Gerakan advisor, saying it would give time to "the old man to focus on other issues such as Wawasan Open University, which we spent millions (of ringgit) on." he added.

H'ng said this after Penang BN Youth held a press conference to promote its Aidilfitri event on Sunday in Batu Maung, where 4,000 people are expected to attend.

NONE BN state Youth chairperson Oh Tong Keong (at microphone in pic) said Koh, who is minister in the Prime Minister's department, and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, will attend the event, which is organised as part of the coalition's preparation for the coming elections.

He was accompanied by state colleagues Umno Youth chief Norman Dahlan, MCA deputy Youth chief Tan Hing Teik, MIC Youth chief J. Dhinagaran and PPP Youth secretary Andrew Rajah.

This looks like a further slap on Lim's face as he had announced his resignation yesterday over his unhappiness with Koh for not being proactive in resolving many issues affecting the party, despite being advised on many occasions.

penang gerakan agm 260910 teng hock nan Koh's attitude had also been criticised as being "akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground".

Lim's decision came in the wake of Koh saying he could not attend the Penang Gerakan EGM on Sunday, which may see members voting Teng ( left ) out.

Meanwhile, Oh, who is Gerakan state Youth chairman, questioned Lim's timing of dropping "a bombshell before the EGM".

However, he welcomed Lim's resignation, saying it was time for the senior leader to retire.

Oh said Lim's resignation would bring little impact to the party on the whole as no one was indispensable.

"It does not matter who resigns, the party's struggles will go on. Anyway, it is time for him to resign as the time has come for him to retire.

"It is also time to let the youths and the younger people to take over and manage the party," he stressed.