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©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Ng Kee Seng and Giam Say Khoon

PETALING JAYA (April 5, 2007): Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon takes over captainship of Gerakan on Sunday (April 8). In terms of elected representatives, Gerakan is Barisan Nasional (BN)’s fourth largest coalition party - after Umno, MCA and PBB (Sarawak’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu).

Koh has walked a long, slippery and winding road in politics, clearing many hurdles, to reach where he is today, in the shadow of a man who had been party president for 27 years, the charismatic Datuk Seri Dr Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

In terms of personality, they were poles apart. While Lim is loud and blunt in speech, Koh is soft-spoken, gentle even.

Lim will take the bull by the horn in tackling issues, wasting little time to seek a solution; Koh rules by consensus and is often perceived to be taking his time dealing with hot issues.

On Sunday, Koh becomes acting president and Lim is poised to be adviser.

So who is Koh really?

The man was an education activist with Dong Jiao Jong (the umbrella non-governmental organisation of Chinese educationists and schools) before being lured by Gerakan to contest Penang’s Tanjong parliamentary seat in 1982.

Koh only served one term as MP before he was unseated by Opposition heavyweight Lim Kit Siang, then DAP’s powerful secretary-general, in the national polls in 1986.

His mentor, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, appointed him his political secretary to keep him from premature political rest.

In the next general election in 1990, during the heydays of Umno challenger Semangat 46, Koh’s star rose and had shone brightly ever since.

Although BN was severely beaten by DAP and the mighty Chong Eu (who had ruled for 21 years) was humbled in Padang Kota, it was to be Koh’s greatest political launchpad.

Koh, who had won in Tanjung Bungah, was made Chief Minister at 41.

Only six other Gerakan candidates won their state seats while Umno won all 12. The MCA and MIC (contested one seat only) lost all.

Almost immediately, critics started running down Koh, labelling him a political wimp who would not survive the next election.

Despite leading the state BN to convincing victories in the next three national polls - 1995, 1999 and 2004 - and restricting the DAP to only a single seat in the state legislative assembly, Koh continued to be attacked.

Over the years, he delicately neutralised attempts from various quarters - especially from Umno and MCA leaders - to undermine his leadership and Gerakan’s political stranglehold on Penang.

Koh’s political strength in Penang was also fiercely tested by a challenge mounted by Dr Goh Cheng Teik who was backed by a group of local party seniors and veterans led by Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping and Datuk Tan Gim Hwa in 1998.

Party insiders say Koh will continue to treat his critics the same way - ignore them and do what he must do.

Despite what detractors say, this was the same man who brought the DAP to its knees since 1995. In the process, he killed Kit Siang’s political ambitions in Penang in 1995, 1999 and 2004.

Some are now comparing him to the wily Keng Yaik.

A party observer says: "Lim took over as party president at 41. Koh took over as Chief Minister at 41. This means the 58-year-old Koh is actually taking over as party No.1 with more experience than when Keng Yaik did."

On accusations that Koh is not a firm leader, the observer noted that Koh had said "No" to the Kedah MB, on the grounds that it had been previously discussed and decided that Kedah would not charge Penang for the supply of raw water from the Muda River.

"Did he not uncharacteristically announced last week that he was ready to take over as party president (from Keng Yaik) and that he would not run away from the responsibility (as party supremo)?"

The observer adds: "It is not right, also impossible, to compare Koh with Keng Yaik. They are two very different people in character and leadership styles but both are effective leaders in their own right."

"Perhaps, Koh’s consensus leadership-style is seen by many as weakness? That is the mistake of doomsayers."

Koh’s immediate and urgent tasks from Sunday are to:

• put the party in a strong foothold to face the next general election, ironically just as what Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting had to do after he took over as MCA president in 2003 followed by the 11th General Election in 2004;

• decide who he wants to be his deputy for a smooth leadership change; and

• decide who should be the next Penang CM (as he is likely to move to federal after the next general election).

Party insiders say Koh is likely to leave the post of deputy president vacant until the next party elections.

Currently, party grassroots favour the deputy to come from Perak as the posts of party president and Penang CM are already leaders from Penang.

If Koh subscribes to the Perak factor (Keng Yaik is from Perak), then he has two obvious candidates - Perak executive councillor Datuk Chang Ko Youn, 50, and Youth chief, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, 46, who is Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister.

Perhaps, the most difficult task for Koh is to decide whom he wants to succeed him as Penang CM. Difficult because the candidates are all his friends.

Party insiders say four names are in the running - Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye (who is party secretary-general, an appointed post), Penang executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan (elected vice-president in the last party elections with the highest votes), Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon (an elected central committee member who secured the highest votes in the last party elections) and Penang executive councillor Teng Chang Yeow (who was Koh’s political secretary before 2004).

However, behind closed doors, the party leadership are undecided over Hock Nan, 62, and Chia, 55.

Koh is said to favour Hock Nan to succeed him for one term as a reward for his loyalty to the party but age is a factor working against him. Chia’s supporters argue that age would also be a factor working against him after that one term.

That puts Kah Choon, at 47, the man to watch in the next 10 years in Penang Gerakan.

No matter what the doomsayers in and outside Gerakan say, Koh arguably is a well tested politician in the party and government.

There is no doubt he will be calling the shots from this Sunday, although his detractors will say Keng Yaik is the party adviser.

After a tumultuous 17 years as Penang Chief Minister, it would be fairly accurate to say Gerakan will be in safe hands under Koh.

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