PENANG: Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon has quit all party posts with immediate effect to pave way for the party to “get back on its feet”.
Lee, 48, who joined Gerakan in 1987, resigned as Jalan Jelutong branch chairman, Jelutong division chairman, Penang Gerakan assistant secretary, state working committee member, central committee member and central working committee member.
Lee said he had written a one-page letter, notifying the party of his decision.
“I relinquished all my positions in the party because as a leader, I want to take responsibility for the losses Gerakan suffered in the general election,” the former Health Ministry parliamentary secretary told a press conference at his service centre in Jelutong.
Trying to hold back his emotions, Lee said he did not want to be a stumbling block for other capable members to become party leaders.
Lee’s announcement came a day after his criticisms in a Chinese daily on Saturday that the party leadership should be more responsible for the election losses.
Lee, a lawyer, said he would continue to serve the party as an ordinary member, especially in Jelutong and Machang Bubok.
He defeated DAP’s Karpal Singh for the Jelutong parliament seat in 1999 and retained the seat in 2004. In the March 8 polls, he lost the Machang Bubok state seat to PKR's Tan Hock Leong.
Lee said he would not reconsider his decision.
“My decision is solely mine and it’s final. If the grassroots want me to stay, I can always make a comeback in the next party elections,” he said.
He denied his decision was linked to his criticisms in the Chinese daily.
“I don’t owe anybody any explanation. I felt responsible and I wanted to do it, so I did it,” he said.
Asked about his relationship with Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Lee said it was cordial and a working relationship. “Yes, I was unhappy and didn’t agree with certain issues during the election but that has nothing to do with my decision.”
By K.KASTURI DEWI
Star online
PEOPLE'S POWER
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