As Gerakan leaders at its National Delegates Conference today attempted to rally a party still struggling to find its footing ahead of a crucial general election, the fault lines that bared itself could not conceal their poker faces.

Outgoing Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon got the ball rolling by calling on the party to "break the zero" in Penang and perform "better than 2008", a clear sign that taking back the state was not the main agenda.

gerakan agm 309012 koh tsu kun speech 02 It was akin to watching a pre-game managerial pep talk, where players are told that their purpose on the pitch was to at least score a consolation goal.

Call it modesty - a rare virtue among politicians - but this is hardly motivating stuff since Gerakan won only two Parliamentary and two state legislative assembly seats in 2008.

At a press conference after the NDC, Koh denied that the party was setting the bar too low, stating: "Breaking zero is our minimum aim, the maximum, we will see".

While not setting a maximum bar would mean not having to create expectations, it also suggests a lack of confidence.

However, Koh did reveal that the the party's priority was to capture the parliamentary seats of Beruas, Teluk Intan, Taiping in Perak and retaining Simpang Renggam in Johor.

That's just four Parliamentary seats. Still a far cry from the 10 it won in 2004.

'Warlords an issue, but no rift'

If having a low target was bad enough, heads of Gerakan's Youth and Wanita wings were accusing "warlords" of the top leadership at a critical juncture.

The arduous strategy for an uphill battle was not the only concern for Koh, as he was forced to play fire fighter after Gerakan Youth Chief Lim Si Pin again reiterated his " warlord " remark.

"Some warlords have led certain branches for 30 to 40 years, the youth members have no space to progress.

gerakan agm 309012 audience flag "Even today, many youths are here only as observers, but how long can they remain as observers? If they don't give them space, they are going to run away from our party and we will not get them back," he said.

However, he was quick to add that there was no rift within the party and voicing dissent was part of the party's democratic practices.

While Lim's statement caused raised eyebrows among veterans, it also exposed scars within Gerakan from the last NDC, where Gerakan Wanita Chief Tan Lian Hoe had led a failed attempt to oust Koh.

Coming to Lim's defence, Tan said: "This is true, there are leaders have been too long in position at the branch, division or state level. If there are capable people we should give them a platform, please make way for them".

"I do not want to see this party to be struggling for survival ( nyawa-nyawa ikan ) because of warlords. They are only in position to contest in the election, they want to control the party, then what happens?

"I am saddened when I see the party now and when we were at the height of power because each day we are on the decline because of these warlords," she said.

Leaders seek to quell dissent

Gerakan senior leaders at the NDC, like in the last, moved quickly to postpone the distraction ahead of polls.

"Now is not the time to express dissatisfaction with the leadership, now is the time to find ways to face the 13th General Election. Our enemies are not within, our enemy is Pakatan Rakyat," said Gerakan vice president Liew Yun Fah.

On his part, Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow also promised that he would propose a three-term limit for positions within the party.

The NDC closed with Koh personally assuring that a succession plan was already in place, citing the leadership transition in Penang and his personal decision not to be fielded during the polls.

He also sought to bury the hatchet with his Wanita chief, assuring Tan and other members that they would be allowed to contest as long as they worked hard.

"Tan Lian Hoe is already working hard in Taiping... people misunderstand that if people attack me last time, (they would not be allowed to contest).

"But we have a big heart, if you work hard, is diligent, honest and can garner local support, regardless if you support the president or not, the president will support you as a candidate, that is the Gerakan spirit," he said.

With low targets and a simmering discontent at the grassroots, it would appear that Gerakan, once dubbed the "conscience of BN", is struggling not to become the "deadweight of BN".