Huan to decide whether to quit party in two weeks
Written by Regina William, The Edge
Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan is glad that the party's central working committee (CWC) is now aware of his grouses with the state Gerakan leadership.
Speaking to The Edge Financial Daily in a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur, the former Batu Kawan MP said the rumblings of the grassroots to the Penang leadership had fallen on deaf ears.
"I have not quit as the party VP to date and I am also in constant touch with party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. I have no problems with the national leadership, it is the state leadership that is ignoring the voices of the grassroot members.
"I do not mind being the bad guy here and some party leaders do not like me because I am outspoken but someone has to do the job. If everyone wants to be a good guy, then the voices of the grassroots would not reach the CWC," he said.
He acknowledged that he had only expressed his intention to resign but had yet to do so and had yet to see the show-cause letter sent by the party as he was still out of town.
"I thank the CWC for giving me the chance to speak up and I am actually happy I am being issued a show-cause letter as now I can tell all especially since I could not get through to the leaders at the state level," he added.
Asked if he was seriously considering leaving Gerakan, Huan said he would wait for the outcome after he had explained his stance to the CWC.
Among Huan's main grouses was the state Gerakan's move to appoint a coordinator from out of Machang Bubok for the state constituency.
Huan said a few names had been put forward for consideration but these were not even considered. He said he had received numerous phone calls from grassroot members who were upset with the appointment.
"Would they like it if I propose someone from Machang Bubok to be the coordinator for Pulau Tikus?" he asked. Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan was the former state assemblyman for Pulau Tikus.
Huan also lambasted the state leadership for doing "nothing" and sitting quietly instead of working hard to face the next general election. "In two weeks, I will make my decision if I am going to stay or leave," he added.
Gerakan secretary general Teng Chang Yeow yesterday said Huan would be issued a show-cause letter which he has to reply in two weeks.
Teng had said while the party respected Huan's right to express his views, the CWC viewed his recent statements, particularly those ridiculing the party in the vernacular press as having gone overboard and had badly tarnished the party's image and the CWC decided that disciplinary action be instituted against him.
