Ants in the pants or fire down below?

Jostling and shoving usually takes place in the months leading up to an election.
Trouble is, in Malaysia, these kinds of maneuvering seem to happen even before the announcement.

With the recent groundbreaking budget revelation by PM Najib, talk has been rife about him calling
for an early election ahead of a perceived economic slowdown. Elections in economically challenging times
are often suicidal. But the again, its only a perception.

However in recent days, many have expressed hope that the government will see out its full term, which will eventually see the next General Elections before March 8, 2013. One such proponent is none other than former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir. Interestingly enough, here is a business perspective on how and if, the elections is held in 2012.

But all these are only indicators. What is happening now in political parties are moves to see who will lead their respective parties to the polls. In three days, Gerakan will be holding their annual delegate's conference, and from within, the 'Teleporting' Minister without portfolio (often mocked by netizens as Accompanying Minister) is facing the stiffest of hurdles from his own party. Many has reflected that since 2008, gerakan has fallen way back from other BN component parties due to his frail leadership.

To back Koh, defensive statements from the likes of Gerakan Legal and Human Rights Bureau chair Baljit Singh that Koh is actually an elected leader by democratic means (read: unlike opposition parties which generally do not encourage challenges to the top post) and therefore should lead Gerakan's challenge against DAP has been made.

Yet the likes of Bayan Baru chairman Wong Mun Hoe, who has complemented MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for his recent advocating of 'a New Deal for the Chinese community' which augurs well for leaders, Koh should provide clear indication of how and what Gerakan must stand for to remain relevant in Penang. A former stronghold of Gerakan, DAP has dug in with gusto through intense lobbying of previously stronghold areas of Gerakan.

Koh does not have uch time, for he has spent a good 2 years 'accompanying' the Prime Minister and has not done much for Gerakan. So much so that some has even questioned why Najib had named Koh as a Minister without portfolio despite the rejection of Gerakan by the rakyat.

Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik had made his stand clear in the past meetings to the point that he even quit as party advisor, primarily due to the hurt he had to endure watching Tsu Koon's leadership of the party that he had very much helped to build.

Evidently, Tsu Koon is still trying hard to hang on to Gerakan, but will gerakan hang on to him? In the last EGM in which Teng Hock Nam was the subject of an ouster by party delegates, over 45% had wanted him removed. Hock Nam is widely known as a close ally of Tsu Koon. That was only over a year ago.
One year on, did another 6% decide on the fate of Hock Nam and Tsu Koon?

Clearly, MCA has been working hard to convince its own members of the task ahead, Gerakan it seems is having trouble to convince its President of the task ahead!

So, Fire down below? or is it Ants in the pants Tan Sri?