Penang Gerakan - Why EGM?

PENANG GERAKAN - WHY EGM?

When Sdr. Dr. Teng Hock Nan was elected as the Penang Gerakan State Chairman in October 2008 with a majority of 10 votes, he promised to “rebuild the party and lead it to the next level.”

As a freshly elected leader he was expected to unite the Party and mobilise every member to work towards a common political programme. Since assuming office, he has a free hand to turn the Party round and to improve the image of Gerakan with the Penang electorate.

Let’s ask ourselves, what has substantially happened since he took over the chairmanship?

Over the last 2 years, Gerakan’s image has further deteriorated. There is this pervasive sense of “business as usual” in Gerakan. It seems like the leaders have still not woken up to the fact that they have been totally rejected by the electorate. They walk and talk like as if they are still in power.

The fact is, none is in the state assembly and yet none has been an effective opposition. Unable to gauge the sentiment of the Rakyat, more importantly, the lack of leadership and strategic planning have led to only sporadic, ill planned attacks on the State government, which only further distance the party from the public.

Gerakan is in crisis, internally and externally. Is Dr Teng the right person to lead us out of this crisis?

It is undeniable that he has contributed significantly to the party in his long years of service. But, for now, Gerakan is in an unusual, turbulent time, full of uncertainty. Every member is looking for a strong leadership with coherent strategy and sound political programs to actively engage the electorate.

We need a leader who can grasp and show us the big picture, to hold up a beacon of hope to spur us on, to unit all factions in the party, to harness all the youthful enthusiasm and energy, channel them and nurture them towards the ultimate goal of upholding the party ideals.

Most of all, we need a chairman who places the party above self.

Have we seen any of these aspirations fulfilled so far?

Should we wait on?

How much time do we have?

Albert Einstein said “insanity: is to keep on doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

Let’s take stock of our situation, are we all heading towards the mental asylum?

It is now 2 years since the devastating defeat of 308, is the state Chairman still act the same, talk the same, and think the same, yet foolishly hope that Gerakan will rise above the crisis and be in power again?

Or, is he folding his arms and wait for the Pakatan to implode itself and voilà! The Rakyat will favor Gerakan again?

Seriously, Gerakan Penang needs a total revamp, RIGHT NOW!!

If we are committed to change, we must change now.

To pick up from where we are now, to improve the image of the party, to undo all the damages done, to regain lost ground – we need time.

Realistically, TIME is what we do not have.

Many have said, “It is wrong to rock the boat now.”

How much more wrong it is to be on board a sinking boat and do nothing?

The road leading to the Extra General Meeting.

After much deliberation and multiple attempts to find an amicable way out, the delegates have taken the unprecedented and painful step of going to the EGM for a vote of no confidence on the state chairman.

When a patient comes into the hospital with a ruptured appendicitis, the surgeon chooses to use the sharpest knife on him, not out of hatred but out of the need to save a life.

Heart renting as it may be, the grassroots has seen the EGM as the only last ditch effort to save the Party from further degeneration. We are mindful that the EGM will not lead to the end of the woes besetting the party, but at least, it is the beginning of the end of the deterioration in the party.

We truly appreciate the concern Dr Teng has for the welfare of the Party, namely his fear of a vacuum in the leadership if the motion of the EGM is passed.

We are confident, the party will not be worse off after a change in the state chairmanship. We firmly believe there are still enough capable leaders left in the party, who have enough love and passion for the party to be revived. When the circumstances call for their service, they would step up to take on the role of leading the party. The party badly needs new blood, new approach, and new energy to bring it to overcome the multitudes of hurdles ahead.

Leader in crisis.

Crisis has the effect of stripping one bare to reveal the real character of a person. We, the delegates, are watchful of the responses and strategies of the embattled Chairman. All the words and deeds of him and his inner circle will be scrutinized and evaluated to let us all accurately assess - What Dr Teng is made up of?

This EGM has open up a golden opportunity to let us peek into his character. At the moment, the delegates are not pleased with what they have seen.

For the many reasons above, the EGM is necessary and the motion is inevitable. Let us all take the very first baby step to salvage the party, and open the door towards a brighter future for the party that we all love.

“Not that we love you less but we love the Party more.”

Gerakkanlah Gerakan

30 September 2010

Nicholas Christakis: How social networks predict epidemics

Cracks worsen in Gerakan’s Penang base

From The Malaysian Insider

By Clara Chooi September 10, 2010

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 10 — Already in a state of disarray since its worst-ever performance during Election 2008, the struggling Gerakan now appears on the verge of further self-destruction.

Its Penang liaison body has been hit lately by a slew of conspiracy theories and an internal coup d'état movement that seems determined to remove its state chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan.

It is believed the group will complete collecting the 50 signatures from more than 350 party delegates by next week, which are enough for them to requisition a no-confidence motion against Teng in an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Once the motion is taken to the EGM however, it needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the delegates before it can be put into effect.

Teng has charged that the movement is being masterminded by former fellow vice-president Huan Cheng Guan in the latter’s attempts to gain popularity for the newly-formed Parti Cinta Malaysia, where he now sits as vice-president.

In a new twist, however, a division chief told The Malaysian Insider that the movement is led by the younger members in Gerakan who are angered that Teng has refused to listen to their pleas for reform.


A group within Gerakan wants Teng out. — Picture by Clara Chooi
Bukit Mertajam division chief Datuk Tan Kim Seah said in fact that the group comprised Teng’s own people whom he himself had commissioned to form a think-tank to survey the general sentiment of voters.
“He started the campaign... it originated from Teng himself. He asked these youths to survey what the support is like for Gerakan and how to revive the party.

“They surveyed and then fashioned a memorandum in which the first condition called for Teng’s resignation,” he said.

Tan claimed that this was because it was discovered that Teng had a bad reputation on the ground and was seen to be a likely stumbling block to the already troubled party.

“Furthermore, the clock is ticking on us. We do not have much time left before the next general election. It is going to be extremely difficult to win even one seat back. Now, Teng has become a bigger liability to the party,” he said.

Tan rubbished Teng’s conspiracy theory that the revolt movement was influenced by Huan, pointing out that the former vice-president was no longer even a Gerakan member.

“He seems to have caught his own foot in the door and now his own people want him to step down but he does not want to.

“Why? Because he is still set on becoming the next chief minister,” he said.

Teng was widely tipped to be the next Penang chief minister, replacing Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon during Election 2008 when the latter announced that he was moving on to a federal post.

Teng, however, lost his contest for the Pulau Tikus state seat and Gerakan, which had helmed Penang for nearly 40 years since 1969, lost the entire state to the Pakatan Rakyat parties of DAP, PKR and PAS.

Gerakan failed to secure even one seat while Umno won 11 seats in the 40-seat state assembly. DAP made a clean sweep and secured all 19 state seats it contested, while PKR won nine and PAS won one.

“But now, the new blood of the party want to disassociate themselves from Teng because, image-wise, his reputation is not good.

“What we want is a new image for Gerakan and everyone needs to be big enough to shoulder some of the burden. A good leader must have a heart big enough to contain everyone,” Tan said.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insider earlier this week, Teng continued to express suspicion that the whole turmoil had been triggered by Huan’s remaining supporters in Gerakan.

“They were the ones who held banners for him during the time of his resignation,” he said.

Teng explained that Huan’s resignation last year had initially been triggered following dissent over his choice of one of the 17 Barisan Nasional co-ordinators that Gerakan had to appoint for the state.

“Some people were not happy with the person chosen for the Machang Bubok constituency. That incident eventually led to Huan’s resignation,” he said.

Teng claimed there were now two main persons responsible for planning his ouster, saying that they were from the Permatang Pauh division of Gerakan.

“I do not know exactly why this is happening but I am putting two and two together. These are people who strongly support Huan.

“And for Huan... now he is now in PCM. What is one of the better ways to make sure that you are noticed and prominent?” he said.

When asked if he meant that Huan was merely attempting to gain popularity for himself and PCM by using the issue, Teng smiled and said: “Of course! You said it, not me.”

He, however, noted that he was ready to abide by the party’s constitution should the group of dissidents successfully collect the 50 signatures.

“By law, we will have to hold an EGM and it is purely a democratic process. We will go ahead,” he said.

He expressed sadness, however, that the group had not approached him directly first before making their intentions known in the press.

“I am open to criticism. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism. If they had attempted to speak with the leadership first and then found that we were unable to help and only then they went to the media, I would be in full agreement. But now, they did not even speak to us,” he said.

Action speaks louder than words

Gerakan rocked by growing disillusion

MON, 06 SEP 2010 06:00

By Hawkeye

GEORGE TOWN: The political temperature in the Pearl of the Orient is expected to heat up in the coming weeks as Penang Gerakan is now believed to be facing a state leadership crisis. With PKR and DAP holding their respective party elections in the coming months while Umno prepares for its annual general assembly next month, Gerakan has suddenly now also generated public interest following a stunning announcement by its state chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan.

On Saturday, Teng unexpectedly revealed that there is a group out to oust him.

Gerakan was once considered the political mainstay in Penang, having ruled the state since 1969.

The party, formed by the late Dr Syed Hussin Alatas, is mostly a Penang and Perak-based party judging from the election of its leaders from both states.

The current president is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon, a former long-serving Penang chief minister while the secretary-general is Teng Chang Yeow, the younger brother of Teng Chang Khim, who is the Selangor DAP state legislative assembly speaker.

Chang Yeow is said to be a dark horse in the present dispute over who should best lead Penang Gerakan now.

Since its thumping loss in the 2008 general election, Penang Gerakan is "wandering in the dark" as it comes to terms with its role as an opposition without any electoral seats here.

Teng, a veteran and considered chief minister material, caught many by surprise when he revealed the existence of the group, said to originate from the Bayan Baru division, which enjoys support in most other divisions.

"I am ready to call for an extraordinary general meeting if there is proof that party members in Penang want me out," said the doctor, who is also a Gerakan vice-president.

"I may have antagonised many members after being in politics for many years," a sombre Teng told a press conference.

Shadowy group

It is learnt that some Gerakan leaders are speculating that Umno may be behind this shadowy group as it is urging its Barisan Nasional coalition partner to make changes to its perceived weak leadership ahead of the next general election.

Penang is considered one of the country's most developed states, similar to Selangor.

Gerakan is now at a crossroads, said its former vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, who quit the party last year and join a new entity called Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM).

Huan said Gerakan may have all but abandoned its plan to recapture Penang as the Chinese sentiment is still with the DAP.

The party is now focused on other states such as Sabah, hence the move to oust Teng, Huan said.

It is also learnt that PCM is quietly trying to recruit disgruntled and disillusioned Gerakan members, whose rank is said to be growing by the day as Gerakan grapples with the new political reality in the country.