Embattled Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon ( below ) said that he may relinquish his post earlier, shorter than the two terms that he promised two years ago during the party election.

gerakan life member council congress 061110 koh tsu koon However, he said that the decision will depend on whether Gerakan’s young leaders are ready to lead the party.

"In 2008, when I was nominated for the president’s post. I said then that at the most I will stay for two terms (six years). I reiterate it today but it might be earlier," he said during his opening speech at the Life Member’s Council meeting today.

            

"We cannot assume our party and official posts are the most important. We have to ask what we can do for the party and the people,” he added.

With that, he said that he hoped the party would close ranks and strengthen itself in accordance to the “Satu Hati” spirit.

Koh has been under pressure cooker-conditions after his mentor and Gerakan icon Lim Keng Yaik quit the party advisor’s post in protest against what he said was Koh’s relative inaction, in solving a revolt in the Penang branch resulting in an emergency general meeting.

Koh and Lim may have buried the hatchet when they met to reconcile their differences.

However relations still appear frosty when they did not appear to interact with each other much despite sitting side-by-side on stage at today’s event, a stark contrast to happier days when their relationship was likened to that of father and son.

When asked about the state of his relationship with Lim at the press conference later, Koh played down their difference of opinions.

"Any two persons will always have different opinions, like husband and wife. We (still) can talk and we even sat together just now for breakfast,” he said.

He added that he believed that Lim made the criticism in good faith and he has accepted it.

Lim mum on Koh’s performance

Later, when approached at the sidelines of the meeting, Lim ( centre in photo below ) said that although Koh indicated that he will not lead the party for more than two terms, he has no choice but to continue if the members still want his leadership.

gerakan life member council congress 061110 lim keng yaik "This is his choice though I don't know what he meant. But, if he has done well, then the party constitution allows him to hold the post for more than two terms."

"If the members want him, he will not have the choice (to step down),” he said.

But he refused to comment on whether Koh should hold the post for more than two terms under current circumstances and whether the latter’s performance has improved after the EGM.

When pressed about their relationship, the elder statesman replied, "Do you want me to sleep with him to show that our relationship is good?"

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