Despite the efforts from MCA to undermine Gerakan, party president Lim Keng Yaik told members today not to retaliate against the party which is also a member of the ruling front, Barisan Nasional.

The veteran politician said although he knew the party was being 'back-stabbed' by its partner, he refrained from confronting the latter because Gerakan works in the BN spirit.

"If you do me and I do you, then the whole BN also gets done in," he said in his winding-up speech at the party's 30th Annual National Delegates Conference in Kuala Lumpur, attended by more than 1,500 members.

"If the MCA tries to cucuk (prick) us. We don't cucuk back. But, we let the people cucuk them," Lim added.

"As long as Gerakan can show the people that we can work for them, anybody can cucuk also never mind," said Lim.

The rivalry between MCA and Gerakan has been brewing since the latter's formation as an opposition party in1968 and intensified when it joined the BN four years later.

It was also galling to MCA that the post of Penang chief minister which it once held through Wong Pow Nee, had fallen into the hands of Gerakan in 1969 after Wong was defeated by Dr Lim Chong Eu. Gerakan still holds the post.

Lim, who has been at the helm of Gerakan for 22 years, also took the opportunity to remonstrate the delegates for not making the debates livelier.

The Gerakan chief also advised the delegates to give more constructive criticism and not just "suck up" to him in their speeches.

"We must decide how we manage our politics and show that we're a united party that has a direction to affect national policies," said Lim, who is also the primary industries minister.

Economic challenges

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that besides terrorism and the Islamic state controversy, Malaysia is also facing another major challenge - that of the economy.

According to Koh, the country is at crossroads after achieving rapid economic growth in the past two decades.

"Now we're facing very steep competition from very populous countries like China and India and also several countries in Southeast Asia which are involved in labour-intensive industries," he said.

Koh explained that although Malaysia's productivity has increased over the past 10 years, the country is still dependent on labour-intensive industries.

The challenges are, how to transform Malaysia from a labour-intensive to technological and skill-intensive economy, he said.

He suggested that the government redouble its efforts in promoting the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) and review the incentives to attract foreign investment and to encourage local industrialists and entrepreneurs.

Koh felt that the country's workforce should also change its mindset and embrace the use of information technology and computers.

"Our competitiveness can be eroded if we don't [change]," he said.

The former university lecturer also said economic development and national unity must go together.

"We must be competitive so that we have the wealth to distribute," he said.

On the economic impact of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States, Koh said the tragedy has affected Penang's tourism industry.

Fewer tourists from Europe and Australia are visiting Penang now as many fear to travel by air, he said, adding that 60 percent of tourists to the state were foreigners, mostly from Europe, Australia, Japan and Singapore.

"This is outside our control," he lamented.

However, he said, efforts are being made to attract more regional visitors from non-traditional areas such as Thailand, China and India.

Resolutions adopted

Today, delegates to the congress voted to adopt seven resolutions. Among others, they resolved to support the creation of Bangsa Malaysia and moved that BN act more as a single multi-racial party.

The party also called on the government to roll out the implementation of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by twinning the MSC with Penang and other regional centres capable of supporting the ICT industry.

The delegates also unanimously agreed to several amendments to the party's constitution to tighten the clauses and improve Gerakan's organisational structure.

Also, next year's conference would witness more participation from women and younger members as representations from the Youth and Women wings have been each raised from 50 to 120.