Shell-shocked Koh concedes defeat in Penang, didn't expect huge loss

BATU KAWAN, Sat: 

A shocked Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who conceded the Barisan Nasional defeat to the opposition, said he did not expect the coalition to lose in 11 of the 13 parliamentary seats and at least 30 of the 40 state seats.

"I am sad and shocked. The people have made their choice and my friends and I accept it. I thank all those who have supported us along the way," he told a Press conference after the official announcement of the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat where he lost to DAP's Dr P. Ramasamy by a majority of 9,485 votes.

Besides the parliamentary seat, BN also lost all three states of Bukit Tengah, Bukit Tambun and Prai. In Bukit Tengah, BN's Ng Siew Lai lost to Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Ong Chin Wen with a 1,104 votes majority while in Bukit Tambun BN's Huan Cheng Guan lost to PKR's Law Choo Kiang. In Prai, BN's L. Krishnan lost in a three-cornered fight to Ramasamy.

Koh, who put up a brave front throughout the press conference, said he had informed Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas that BN had failed to garner the two third majority to form the state government.

He also contacted state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow to inform the latter regarding the formation of the next state government as the party had won all the 19 state seats it contested.
Koh advised all BN component party leaders and members to be calm and accept the people's choice. "Don't take any action that can affect the security of the state," he added.

Asked on the reason BN lost most of the seats it contested, Koh said: "It is due to many factors ... BN not only lost in Penang but other states as well. I cannot give a detail analysis now as I need to study the matter first".

To another question if he would remain in politics and his post as the acting Gerakan president, Koh said: "This is something which I have to think about it".

On whether the party would still exist to serve the people, he described it as the biggest defeat since the formation of the party 40 years ago.

"However, as often said people come and go but the party stays on but whether it is the same leadership of now, this has yet to be decided," he added.

--NST