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.
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