Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe explained today she was  not seeking cheap publicity when she asked party president Koh Tsu Koon not to contest the next general election.       

Instead, the call was made with the intention to raise the party's dignity and to spur the members to change and be bolder, she said.     

"In all sincerity, I had no intention of asking the leadership to resign but to urge leaders at the central, state and grassroots levels to make decisions for the party's survival," she said when speaking during the winding up of debate on the president's speech at Gerakan's 40th national delegates conference at Menara PGRM.     

It was necessary for the party to change immediately before it was changed by the people, she said by way of explaining the call she made when opening the Wanita Gerakan's delegates conference yesterday.    

"We must walk the talk, and not talk and talk. We must walk down to the ground, we must have the fighting spirit, courage and confidence. Imagine a fire in front of us and to our left and right. Are we going to sit still and be burnt to ashes?" she said.     

Tan also expressed her undivided support for all decisions made by the party leadership.      

"I will always be with and support the president (Koh) and I will remain with and be loyal to Gerakan," she said.      

Tan said she believed that the party can bounce back and win more seats in the next general election.      

After her speech, Tan shook hands with Koh and all the other leaders seated on the main stage as she was applauded by the delegates.      

- Bernama