At the end of it all, the Gerakan AGM turned out to be all too surprisingly quiet. It could even be described as a banal affair.

Two things were conspicuously missing - former party supremo Dr Lim Keng Yaik and to everyone's surprise, the general election mood was not felt at all throughout.

Although every effort was made to persuade Lim to attend the meeting, he did not turn up because it was "medically inconvenient" for him to do so.

Leading Gerakan for the past 26 years, Lim's presence was, understandably, sorely missed. This was the first Gerakan AGM he was absent from since he joined the party in 1973 from the MCA.

The veteran politician, now the party's advisor, is hospitalised and recuperating from a surgery for prostate problems. His condition was described by party leaders as "very okay but just inconvenient" to attend the meeting.

Lim's wit and humour, peppered with sarcastic remarks, were definitely missed by the 1,418 delegates present today.

No 'election speech'

This includes his successor Dr Koh Tsu Koon who took over the baton on April 8 this year.

"Over the years, we have grown accustomed to the thought-provoking, motivating and humourous speeches given by Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

"His is a difficult act to follow indeed, but I can assure you the continuity in spirit and substance, if not in style," the acting party president said at the onset of his speech at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Delegates eagerly waiting for his maiden presidential address were a little disappointed, nevertheless.

His speech centred on the 50th Merdeka celebration, driving economic growth and human capital development, inculcating integrity and promoting unity, empowering the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and promoting inter-racial cooperation.

But they did not hear Koh set the tone on the direction of his leadership nor the party's preparation for the forthcoming general election, although there was much speculation about an early election.

The little surprise in his speech came only when the Gerakan leader, in what could be interpreted as breaking ranks with the government, asked for a royal commission to probe the 'Lingam tape' controversy to be "seriously considered".

He confessed to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was present to open the AGM and seated next to him on stage, that he still felt "nervous" being the acting president.

The absence of the election mood was also evident during the debate in the afternoon.

The delegates debated on issues ranging from race and religion, the predicament of the pig farmers in Malacca to the cases of irregularities as disclosed in the latest Auditor-General's report - but not about how the party will perform in the next elections.

"I don't think they are ready for the general election. This is partly because of the previous three 'easy' elections for them and the culture of complacency sets in," said a political commentator, who declined to be named, when met at the meeting.

More time for Koh

This was a sharp contrast to the MCA meeting last month where party leaders and delegates were clearly fighting to capture the lost votes in the wake of a series of racial controversies.

Recent opinion polls have suggested that Gerakan, a multi-racial but Chinese-dominated party, will also be hit by a possible swing of Chinese votes from the BN to the opposition in the next elections.

The situation may even be trickier for the party at its stronghold of Penang, which has been listed by both DAP and PKR as their frontline state.

It is also unfortunate that the acting president has not actually made known whether he is going for a federal post and who will take over from him in Penang.
The commentator, however, recognised that like any other leadership transition, Koh will need time to settle down and find his own bearing away from the shadow of his long-serving predecessor.

"Reality on the ground is that it will be a much more difficult general election (for BN) and Gerakan is not expected to be spared. The party will have to work much harder," he said.

Despite the lack of election mood among the Gerakan delegates, some journalists joked about the premier's opening speech earlier in which he reiterated the wish to hear the truth - a resonance of the strong pledge that he made after assuming the premiership in 2003.

"Tell me the truth even if it is painful. The prime minister must have the courage and readiness to listen to the worst about the country or himself," Abdullah, who was speaking of the cuff, said and quipped that he has a pair of 'big ears' to listen to the truth.

And to that, a journalist said: "The election must not be too far away."