Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon announced today that he will not stand in the next general election, be it at Parliament or state level.

NONE Speaking at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Koh ( left in photo ) said this was to give opportunity to the "second echelon leaders" in the party.

It is also part of Gerakan's transformation strategy, called Move with the People .

"I myself will lead by example and take the first step for renewal.

"I have decided not to participate as a candidate in any seat, Parliament or state, in the coming 13th general election," he said.

Koh's announcement comes after heavy speculation of resignation from state posts.

Asked if he would resign as Penang BN chairperson, he said: "I have already made my decision and conveyed this to the prime minister."

Coy about the decision, Koh said it needed to be discussed further and that the BN constitution stated that it was the BN supreme council chairperson’s prerogative to appoint state chairpersons.

"Better to follow procedures and respect this prerogative," he said.

As for the Gerakan state leadership posts, all posts are elected and any change must be done through the ballot box.

Koh, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said it was also up to the PM to decide on his ministerial post.

"I have told the central working committee about my decision and plans and have discussed it with the PM," he said.

Not under pressure

Asked if he is under pressure to make these decisions, Koh answered in the negative and said he "will resist pressure".

"(The claims) are undue and unfounded," he said.

He also refuted views that it is too late for Gerakan to go through a "renewal", saying that the ongoing process is now "shifting to high gear".

"If you follow history, you'll find that we held a meeting in late March (after the 2008 general election. In May we came up with three strategies... it's all documented (to show that) we march forward despite many obstacles," he said.

Koh said the transformation programme would be rolled out within a month.

"I shall devote my time and energy to strategies, to strengthen machinery, to decide on the line up, to coordinate publicity.

"I want to campaign for our candidates to win, instead of focussing on winning a seat for myself," he said.

The time and energy devoted, he said, would be the "sacrifice" he had alluded to at the last party assembly.

NONE There was also no need, Koh said,  for him to heed calls to face Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for the Bagan seat.

"I have fought his father (Lim Kit Siang) ( right ) twice in 1986 and 1995," he said, referring to his loss in the earlier election and win in 1995.

"I have fought seven elections, most of them tough fights... I am the only one who fought Lim Kit Siang twice," he said.

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