NIBONG TEBAL: Penang Umno hopes newly-elected Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will be able to resolve any outstanding problems between the two parties. State Umno deputy liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah said he was confident Koh would be able to convince Gerakan state party members who had wanted to severe ties with the state Umno that it would be better to patch things up.

"I am sure Koh will be able to resolve whatever problems that exist between both parties as ultimately the Gerakan members must understand that they have to work with Umno, MCA and the MIC," he said at Umno Nibong Tebal Hari Raya's open house here yesterday.

Gerakan had ceased to work with the state Umno following alleged racist remarks by former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail during the Permatang Pauh by-election in August.

Rashid said it was all right if Gerakan was not interested to stay on in Barisan Nasional.

"At the very least, some arrangements have to be made to make sure all major ethnic groups remain in the coalition. We have to respect each other's social obligations and can't be making demands based on current political situations."

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lum-pur, Gerakan was urged to pressure the government to abolish the Internal Security Act.

The assistant secretary of the party's Kuala Lumpur-Federal Territory state liaison committee, K.K. Supramaniam, said BN component parties should make a stand against the ISA as it was against human rights.

"They should give an ultimatum to the home minister to amend the act, failing which they should withdraw from the BN," he said at the United Nations Non-Violence Day forum.

It was jointly organised by the Federal Territory Gerakan and National Interfaith and Religious Bureau in collaboration with Malaysians for World Peace (MWP), Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship (Insaf) and Pure Life Society.

Supramaniam also called for the release of ISA detainees, except for terrorists. He said they should be tried in court.

State Gerakan-FT Interfaith and Religious Bureau chairman Dr John Gurusamy, who is MWP chairman, opened the dialogue by urging participants to practise non-violence.

Insaf chairman Dr Amir Farid Isahak, who is also United Religions Initiative representative under the United Nations, said it was important to respect all religions.

Pure Life Society president Datin Paduka Mother A. Mangalam said negativity was imbedded in humans and was exacerbated by television, Internet and violence at home.