Gerakan grassroots upset over suspension

(The Star) GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan divisions in Seberang Prai will be holding meetings soon to discuss their next course of action following the three-year suspension slapped on party vice-president Huan Cheng Guan.

The party’s Kepala Batas division head Jeffrey Beh said the grassroots were upset over the suspension.

“Many have called me to express their anger. Some are thinking of joining other parties in Barisan Nasional and even the Opposition,” he said here yesterday.

Beh said the three-year suspension was akin to sacking Huan from the party.

“The grassroots are shocked that the party can impose this heavy punishment on a senior leader who was elected as vice-president,” he said.

Huan said he believed his sacking was orchestrated by party adviser Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

“It is no secret that he wants his son Si Pin to become the next party president. They want to finish me off because I am a threat to Si Pin.

“I won the vice-president’s post from among eight contenders even though I was not on their ‘menu’.

“They kicked out Dr Goh Cheng Teik and he left the party quietly.

“In my case, even if I leave, I will continue to speak out from outside. After all, my supporters are still inside the party,” he said.

Huan said he was suspended without being given the opportunity to defend himself.

“They don’t do this in the MCA or Umno,” he said.

He said some Gerakan leaders were good at spinning stories about him.

“But when facing the Opposition, they become headless chickens.”

Huan said members were unhappy an outsider was appointed the co-ordinator of the Machang Bubok constituency.

“The man is from Bagan. Furthermore, he is a life member of another Barisan component party.

“Everyone in Penang knows this except some Gerakan leaders. They prefer to sweep this under the carpet,” he said.

Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, who is the former Penang Gerakan Youth vice-chairman, said the party was out to kill Huan’s political career.

“They can suspend him for a year but why three years? This is to stop him from contesting in the next general election,” he said.