The word politics comes from the Greek word "polis", meaning the state or community as a whole. Politics could be defined as a calculating art of power gain or power retention or more simply as power struggle. It presupposes a diversity of view, if not about ultimate aims, at least the best ways of achieving them and the ultimate power is found in government.
It is clearly reflected from the Lee Kah Choon political incidence. Datuk Lee Kah Choon has quit as a Gerakan member with immediate effect after he was lambasted for accepting Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's offer to become director of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and investPenang.
Ex-Gerakan President Lim Keng Yaik said, five days after the general elections, he had dinner with Lee Kah Choon. Lee told him of his grand plans to revive Gerakan in Penang and fight the DAP.
Lee wanted to be a watchdog against the DAP government and Keng Yaik said good, but advised him not to give people the impression that he wanted to become the next Penang chief minister.
On April 9, 2008, Sin Chew Daily reported that former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon, who resigned all seven party posts more than a week ago, intends to go for the posts of Gerakan Penang state liaison chief as well as vice-president.
The report said this had prompted state youth chief Huan Cheng Guan to declare his intention to contest the same post which is held by acting party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. It seems like the stage is set for the battle for the post, for the first time in almost a decade.
The post has not been contested since Koh staved off a challenge by Datuk Dr Goh Cheng Teik in 1999. It was learn that after the party lost power in Penang in the recent general election, Lee, known to be a strategist, had offered to take charge of Gerakan's Penang base to help revitalize the party.
Unable to get a response from Koh, Lee went for broke to quit all party posts.
Although he said he quit to take responsibility for the polls setback, it was seen as a move "to get ahead by going backward". It has boosted his image in the party and upped his political stake.
The move had also surprised Koh, who was forced to drop hints that he would not seek another term as Penang Gerakan chief.
Lim Keng Yaik said, Datuk Lee Kah Choon has his feet on two boats that are going in opposite directions. Eventually, he is going to fall and hurt himself. Is it true, let's wait and see. After all, wait and see is the best policy.
No comments:
Post a Comment