'Koh caught in perception trap'

A Penang Gerakan leader fears an electoral backlash because the party president is seen as echoing Umno’s views - again. A Penang Gerakan leader has taken a swipe at his party boss for encouraging public perception that the party only echoes Umno's position on matters of public interest. State legal and human rights bureau chairperson Baljit Singh was speaking in relation to the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government's move to create a portfolio for non-Muslim affairs in the state exco. Baljit said he agrees with Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon that the portfolio is indeed a “publicity stunt”. However, he cautioned that non-Muslims would view Koh's remarks as toeing the Umno stance, given the latter's instant opposition to the idea. He noted that a key reason why Gerakan had been trounced by Pakatan Rakyat in the March 2008 general election was because of Koh's perceived loyalty to Umno. “Politics is all about perception. People will say that Gerakan has fallen into Umno's trap (again),” he told Malaysiakini. “By opposing the portfolio, Koh has (also) fallen into a trap set by (Penang) Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. The 13th general election will not be about facts and figures, but about perception... Lim is trying to tango, (but) why should we (dance with him)?” Koh, a former Penang chief minister, had on Sunday labelled the new portfolio as an unnecessary publicity stunt. Now a senator and federal minister in charge of national unity, he said the previous Gerakan-led Penang administration had dealt with non-Muslim issues without having to create a special portfolio. Koh hinted that Lim was ineffective as the portfolio would not be required if “the chief minister was doing his job”. His comment was in line with former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's remarks that a state portfolio is unnecessary because the federal government has been responsive to the needs of non-Muslims. Abdullah is Kepala Batas assembly representative. Unlike his boss, Baljit sees the 'upgrading' of the portfolio from the level of a committee in the municipal council to the state executive as a positive step. “Lim is doing what he thinks best for the portfolio, to upgrade it as he is in the government now... Gerakan is not even the opposition in the state, it has lost all its seats,” he added. Praise from non-Muslims BN opposition to the Penang decision is in direct contrast to its applause for Perak, which has created the same portfolio, headed by state executive councillor Dr Mah Hang Soon of MCA. teoh beng hock group meets lim guan eng 080111 lim guan engLim has since explained that the portfolio is to promote civilisational dialogue, and foster interaction and understanding among the different communities. He also said the state committee in charge of non-Muslim affairs will include representatives from various organisations of the relevant faiths. He and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy will handle the committee's tasks. Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim now oversees Muslims affairs in the State Religious Affairs Council. Non-Muslim religious groups have praised the DAP-led state government for initiating the move.