Gerakan rocked by growing disillusion

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.