Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Keng Yaik blamed for Lee’s departure - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: April 30, 2008

Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik is to be blamed for Datuk Lee Kah Choon leaving the party, said some leaders from Kuala Lumpur-Federal Territory Gerakan.

Kuala Lumpur-Federal Territory Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who led the group of leaders, told a press conference that Dr Lim, as a party adviser should not have labelled Lee an “opportunist and a political frog” after Lee accepted the directorship of Penang Development Corporation and InvestPenang.

Dr Tan said Dr Lim’s action had forced the party leadership to ask for a show-cause letter from Lee, which in turn forced him to quit the party.

“At the time of his acceptance, Lee stressed that he remained and wished to remain as an ordinary Gerakan member.

“Hence, there is no crossing over in the case of political katak, as was the case when Dr Lim himself joined Gerakan after being expelled from MCA in the early 70s,” he told a press conference at the Federal Territory Gerakan office yesterday.

“We regret that a capable leader who was deemed fit to be a potential Chief Minister of Penang by party leadership just less than 60 days ago, is now deemed to be inexperienced and an opportunist.

“We regret that a capable leader has been forced out of the party as a result of the action by Dr Lim. We would like to advise Dr Lim to stick to what he said publicly when he announced his retirement – that he would only give advice when asked for.

“By giving unsolicited advice publicly over party matters over the past few months, he has done the party image a lot of damage.”

Dr Tan said because of that, Dr Lim should quit as party adviser, not interfere in party affairs, retire graciously and devote more time to his family,” he added.

He said that when Lee accepted the posts, he was only an ordinary party member with no decision-making status in the party and it would not have jeopardised the party’s interests.

Furthermore, Lee was putting people’s interest above his self-interest by accepting the appointments that were non-political and that sort of behaviour should be encouraged.

Dr Tan also announced he would not stand for state and division level elections.

The Segambut Gerakan division chairman said he would, however, retain his Taman Bunga Gerakan branch chairman post.

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