Last call for Teng to quit

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Gerakan grassroots movement (VGG) has made one final call to Dr Teng Hock Nan: “Quit your state chairmanship with your dignity intact to avoid the extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

”The Gerakan will hold its first-ever EGM tomorrow.

In an open letter issued today, a VGG coordinator H’ng Khoon Leng called on Teng to step down gracefully while the floor was still applauding his political achievement and contributions to the party.

By doing so, he said Teng could easily avoid being embarrassed by a vote of no confidence at the EGM and “walk out with his head held high”.

Calling on Teng to reconsider his decision to face the EGM, H’ng said he should not misconstrue such action as a weakness.

“It’s a sign of a big sacrifice for the party that you have grown up with. It’s a sign of you returning the favour to the party.

“Every one of us will remember you for the big sacrifice that you have done for the party and Penang in general,” said H’ng, the state Gerakan Youth vice-chairman.

He explained in the letter that VGG had to call for the EGM and a motion of no confidence after it had failed to reach an agreement with Teng despite trying out various methods.

'Not the right man'
H’ng said Gerakan grassroots members were convinced that Teng was not the right man to reform and make the party relevant again in Penang.

After being the ruling party under Barisan Nasional state government since 1969, Gerakan was routed in all four federal and 13 state seats it contested in the 2008 general election.

H'ng said since being elected as state chairman in October 2008, Teng lacked strategy and vision to strengthen the party and combat political opponents, especially the DAP in Penang
He described Teng’s strategy of waiting to pounce on the state government’s mistakes rather than exploiting Gerakan’s own strength to make a political comeback as a “fatal error”.

He said that Teng’s 3-3-3-1 formula -- signifying the number of extra seats BN must win in the next general election to recapture Penang -- was unworkable. Pakatan Rakyat could easily counter it by telling voters that “a vote for Gerakan is a vote for Umno.”

“The party badly needs an innovative and pro-active strategy to recapture the voters’ imagination,’ he said.

H’ng took Teng to task for failing to motivate and take the Youth movement to greater heights.

“The young members were passionate to serve, but in the end they were made to suffer due to negative public feedback.

“Worse still, they drew flaks from Teng’s supporters,” H’ng said.

Political career at an end?

The Gerakan EGM was called following a petition signed by 67 party grassroots members, more than the 50 required under the party rules.

Teng, also the party vice-president, joined Gerakan in 1973.

Formerly Kebun Bunga and Pulau Tikus assemblyman, he was the party's first choice to succeed out-going Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon during the 2008 general election.

Teng served as Penang Island Municipal Council president and later as a state executive councillor under Koh’s state administration.

During his political heydays, Teng was held in high regard.

But come tomorrow, Penang Gerakan’s 393 eligible delegates, representing 63,000 members from 197 branches, are expected to attend the EGM that would end Teng’s political career.

The EGM will start at 10.30am at the state party headquarters conference hall.

At a press conference yesterday, Teng appeared calm and composed.

He reiterated that he would step down only if the motion of no confidence is passed with a two-thirds majority.

“I will leave my fate to the members... I am not worried about any outcome.

“If I win or lose by a simple majority, I will let the party central committee interpret and decide on the outcome,” he said.