Dark days ahead for Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon

With the current verbal assault on Malaysia's only Chinese Chief Minister in Penang, I wonder at the fate of Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon. His sorry state of affairs more or less started with the criticism by Khairy, the deputy UMNO Youth leader who charged that the Malays in Penang had been marginalised. This was followed by the open demonstration against the Chief Minister by UMNO Tanjung division when it opened its premise and then ignored by the UMNO division chief.

I wonder if his battered state is only temporary, a by-product of the Mahathir-Badawi spat, or more correctly Mahathir-Khairy spat. With the UMNO general assembly scheduled to be held in November this year, as in previous general assemblies, when stakes are high, the UMNO protagonist will usually play the communal and religious tune. This, as to show that they are the champions of the Malays. This year the general assembly is particularly important because of the Mahathir-Badawi spat, although a potential embarrassment had been averted with the failure of Mahathir to be elected as a representative to the assembly, a position which would enable Tun to speak to the delegates.

Will the current offensive against Tan Sri Koh ceased with the conclusion of the up-coming UMNO general assembly? What will happen to Penangites if the Chief Minister is unable to govern the state properly because of interference from UMNO? Tan Sri Koh has already retreated to a cocoon when he said that he will avoid speaking to the press for fear of being misquoted and will only go through the proper channel within the framework of BN. One wonders why he should be seen to be cowed into such action when UMNO members does not need to go through the proper channels - the agreed mode of discussions within the ruling coalition - when they openly snubbed the Chief Minister, or having their communal views ever easily misquoted without much repercussions. Does this make him a lame duck Chief Minister until the next general election which must be held by next year?

On a bigger picture and in longer term, Tan Sri Koh has been picked to take over the helm of Gerakan. If he is not accepted by UMNO and UMNO Youth as an equal, how is he going to hold genuine discussions with UMNO. Hishamuddin and Khairy, the chief and deputy chief of UMNO Youth had already shown disrespect and accused Tan Sri of marginalising the Malays in the state; and Badawi and Najib has also directed Tan Sri to be a leader for all Malaysians. With assault from every corner, can Tan Sri really regain the respect he had when he lead the BN to retain the Penang state assembly in the previous election? If he cannot regain this respect, how is he going to lead the Gerakan at national level without being seen as ineffective. Already his ascension to the Deputy Presidency of Gerakan was marred with some controversies. Given the current situation he is in, can he gain the respect and cooperation of the Gerakan members?

Only Tan Sri Koh can rectify the situation himself. Of course it also depends on how well he handles the UMNO factors. He will have to use all his diplomatic skills to maneuvre himself out of this political quagmire. Gerakan has always been seen as bridge between the MCA and UMNO, and if his leadership is seen as impotent, then a moderating factor in UMNO will be removed and communal politics will sadly be more pronounced.

Ref: “The Marginal Man” - “Punch drunk” Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon