Gerakan leader: 1,000 party members to quit in protest

PONTIAN: A Gerakan leader has claimed that more than 1,000 party members from three branches will quit the party in protest of its decision to stand in the Tanjung Piai polls.

Tanjung Piai Gerakan division deputy chief Tey Chin Teng said the three branches were Rimba Terjun, Jalan Parit Masjid and Jalan Johor.

“I received negative feedback from the public over Gerakan’s decision to field Wendy Subramaniam.

Many people have scolded me, asking me why the party decided to contest the by-election against Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.

“The move to field Wendy could result in Wee losing some 2,000 to 3,000 Chinese votes,” Chin Teng told a press conference yesterday.

Also present were the party’s Jalan Parit Masjid branch chief Tey Chin Hock and Jalan Johor branch chief Goh Bee Hong.

Chin Teng, who is also Rimba

Terjun branch chief and a party member for 37 years, said if Umno and PAS could back Wee, Gerakan should also support him.

Visibly upset, he appeared to have broken ranks with his party boss, telling Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai to “just go back to Penang and take care of Gerakan there”.

According to him, the 1,000 members would send their letters of resignation to the party some time next week.

“I am going to be honest here. I will not support Gerakan but back Wee for the polls.

“He is a good and hardworking man. You will not find a second Wee,” he said.

When contacted, Tanjung Piai Gerakan division chief Datuk Teo Kok Chee denied that 1,000 party members would quit in protest.

“Only three people are leaving the party. Tell him (Chin Teng) to reveal the name list,” he said.

Many people have scolded me, asking me why the party decided to contest the by-election.

Tey Chin Teng