Gerakan has today issued a challenge to Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin - show proof that the Malays in Penang's Balik Pulau are being marginalised by the ruling party in the state.

Penang Chief Minister and party's deputy president Dr Koh Tsu Koon issued that challenge to Khairy when wrapping up his speech at Gerakan's 35th national delegates conference in Cheras today.

Khairy accused the predominantly-Chinese Gerakan state government for marginalising the minority Malays in Penang island, driving them to move to the mainland to both Butterworth and Kedah's Sungai Petani - during a Putera Umno launch in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Balik Pulau is a hilly agriculture area west of Penang island populated by mostly Malays. Penang's 1.2 million population is made up of about 60 percent Chinese Malaysians, 32 percent Malay Malaysians and seven percent Indian Malaysians.

According to Khairy, the marginalisation of the minority Malays in the island was why Umno had raised the issue of rotating the Penang chief minister post so that their rights could be safeguarded.

However, Koh told Khairy to show evidence to back up his claims.

"Don't just criticise, please give us facts and concrete statistics," said Koh.

The Penang chief minister also urged the ruling coalition to stop bickering on the issue.

"Let's us work together since we're all in Barisan Nasional. Let's do concrete work and have programmes that will promote the development for all, and help the poor irrespective of race," he asserted to a rousing applause from the floor.

Lopsided development affects all

Koh explained that all states experience similar problems of uneven development and that this did not exclusively affect the Malays.

"I'm sure that all other states have their cities that are more developed and areas that are rural which is underdeveloped. But (remember) that there are poor people in the cities and they are from all races," he elaborated.

"In rural areas, there are poor people of all races too. The percentage could be different, of course. Some could be Malays, some Chinese and some Indians."

Koh stressed that such problems should to be treated not racially but as a national issue.

"(Even) if it's a problem affecting the Chinese or Malays or Indians, it's a Malaysian problem. The problem affecting a community is usually not unique to the community but shared by all, to a different extent," he added.

The Gerakan deputy leader, who will take over as party leader next April, also pointed out Balik Pulau's potential in eco-tourism where the area's environment will be protected rather than turned into another urban jungle.

"We cannot repeat a Georgetown in Balik Pulau. Balik Pulau has its own advantage (in exploiting) eco-tourism," Koh added.

The wrapping-up session today also saw other committee members launching attacks at Khairy.

Mah Siew Keong, Gerakan Youth chief

Last night, Gerakan Youth got the advice that we were too busy to waste our time responding (to Khairy). We have better things to do. What is important is the thought and work of Pak Lah (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Khairy's father-in-law) and not every Tom, Dick and Harry.

We are already moving forward in fourth gear, but this L-licence (learner) driver has stopped and used the reverse gear to gostan balik (go backwards). We want to tell leaders that those who want to gostan balik, (we should) forget them. We should move forward.

Chang Ko Youn, Gerakan vice-president

There have been a lot of instances where a few parties are being irresponsible and raise racial issue. We should accept this as a test for us. I feel sad that after 49 years that there are Malaysians in the 21th century still using political tactics of the 60s and 70s.

Only 'educated' people use racial issues for selfish gains and to rise up the ladder in the party. We must look at their ulterior motive, especially when they say that they are defending their community's rights. If such politics were to continue, the country will not be united. We should 'drown' these people.