KUALA LUMPUR (June 6) : "I am not running a prostitution den or involved in drugs. I am only helping the people!"This was Gerakan Federal Territory chief Datuk Dr. Tan Kee Kwong's response to the announcement of his suspension by the Gerakan central working committee (CWC) June 6.
"So what is all this fuss about?, " he said, showing the suspension letter to newsmen at a press conference June 6 evening.
"Tan Sri Khalid (Selangor Mentri Besar) has never asked me to join Keadilan," he said.
Gerakan had suspended Tan and asked him to show cause within a week why he should not be expelled for accepting the co-chairmanship of a special task force on land issues offered by the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government last month.
Speaking at the press conference, Tan who is usually quiet, was all fired up and spoke angrily about how the country and the party was being badly managed, and taking a swipe at Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and Umno.
"Koh Tsu Koon has no time to talk to me. He is always busy. Busy doing what?" he asked.
"And Umno has no ears for the component parties like Gerakan and MIC. We are just sideshow to legitimise their struggles," he said.
"We have been trying to tell them (Umno) for the past three years why the Chinese, Indians, Hindus and even Christians are unhappy, but they just won't listen," he added.
"My aim in heading the task force is to help the public and sort out the terrible mess in land issues in Selangor. So what is wrong with that?" asked Tan, a former deputy land and cooperative development minister.
"Look at the pioneer E-land system which was introduced in Penang more than two years ago. The (federal) government spent RM60 million and today, the project has failed. We must not allow it to happen. I'm sure you know who was in power in Penang when the E-land system was introduced," he said, in reference to Koh who was Penang Chief Minister from 1990 until the Barisan Nasional lost the state in the general election last March.
Asked as to the disciplinary action, Tan said he would consider whether or not to reply to the show cause letter.
"I will consult the legal experts to decide my next course of action," said Tan.
Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye had in a statement June 6, announced that Tan's membership had been suspended and he has been given one week to show cause why he should not be expelled.
He said the party Central Working Committee (CWC) made a decision to suspend Tan and institute disciplinary action on him at its regular meeting June 4 night.
"The CWC carefully deliberated on several factors before arriving at this decision," said Chia, who added that as a central committee member himself, Tan should have known the party's position not to condone any member accepting posts with agencies or committees in the opposing PR governments.
"He did so without consulting or informing the party's central leadership and even his own KLFT (Kuala Lumpur and Federal Territory) colleagues," Chia noted.
Tan, a former deputy land and cooperative development minister, accepted the seat of co-chairman of Selangor's special task force on land issues last month.
Tan's action followed former party deputy secretary general Datuk Lee Kah Choon’s move to accept the Penang government's offer to assume posts of InvestPenang executive chairman and Penang Development Corporation director while still being a Gerakan member.
Lee, resigned from Gerakan on being issued a show-cause letter by the party .
Chia said Tan’s publicly stated reasons for accepting the appointment -- his close personal friendship with Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and his desire to serve the people through "a position of power" -- were unacceptable to the CWC.
"Since the General Elections on March 8, Gerakan leaders and members have maintained that Gerakan will assume the role as a constructive opposition to the five PR state governments, while promoting reform within Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gerakan itself," Chia said.
"Therefore, a clear distinction has to be made in terms of government positions."
Chia stressed that most party leaders and members had not been given any position or power even in the ruling BN coalition at state level, but could continue serving the people.
"The CWC took note of Dr Tan's defiant posture in openly criticising the leadership before and after accepting this appointment," he added.
Chia said Tan had openly told the press: "Gerakan feels I have no value in terms of serving the party and the people."
Tan also made other statements in the media, including television interviews, which were intended to damage the party's image, Chia added.
"In view of his negative attitude and approach, the CWC decided to proceed with disciplinary action in accordance with Article 17 of the party's Constitution," Chia said of the decision to suspend and issue the show cause letter to Tan.
The Sun
07/06/08
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