If Huan quits, thousands may follow
Humayun KabirPublished: Jun 21, 2009 7:26 AM | Updated: Jun 21, 2009 9:10 AM
The exodus of thousands of grassroot members from Gerakan is imminent if outspoken party vice-president, Huan Cheng Guan, who has been slapped with a three-year membership suspension, decides to quit the party.
A party insider told Malaysiakini today that the exodus of members may be high as about 10,000 nationwide.
The exodus of thousands of grassroot members from Gerakan is imminent if outspoken party vice-president, Huan Cheng Guan, who has been slapped with a three-year membership suspension, decides to quit the party.
A party insider told Malaysiakini today that the exodus of members may be high as about 10,000 nationwide.
“The media-quoted figure of 1,000 members leaving the party is only confined to Penang. However, the larger picture is that Huan was instrumental in recruiting into the party the grassroots from Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor where Huan’s influence is very strong,” the party insider said.
“We may therefore see thousands more jumping ship if Huan decides to take a walk from the party. Many grassroots members are angry with the party leadership for taking such a drastic step without giving Huan a chance to defend himself.”
“Huan was a very vocal party member who does not hesitate to take on the leadership if they are in the wrong or if it affects the party members. Maybe because of his openness in policy matters he is being sidelined,” the insider reasoned.
“With the departure of Huan, the party is left only with members who will toe the party’s line and who do not want to antagonise the party leadership with strong criticism.”
Fourteen days to appeal suspension
In response to the suspension, Huan had stated that he was a victim of “political persecution” and he was not given a chance to defend himself.
Last month, Huan had threatened to quit Gerakan over the alleged appointment of a party coordinator in one parliamentary constituency in Penang.
There was media speculation that he may defect to PKR and the leadership had issued a show-cause letter, to which Huan had replied on June 14.
Now, the party has given him 14 days to appeal against the three-year suspension.
“Gerakan has already been weakened in the tsunami of March 8 general elections and the trend of grassroots leaders jumping ship will further weaken the party unless concrete measures are taken to arrest the growing trend of resignations in the party leadership,” the insider said.
If Huan quits, he will join a growing list of credible Gerakan leaders to have deserted the party since 2008.
Others include Gerakan stalwarts former deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon, former central committee member Toh Kin Woon, former federal territories chief Tan Kee Kwong and former women’s chief Rhina Bhar.
A party insider told Malaysiakini today that the exodus of members may be high as about 10,000 nationwide.“The media-quoted figure of 1,000 members leaving the party is only confined to Penang. However, the larger picture is that Huan was instrumental in recruiting into the party the grassroots from Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor where Huan’s influence is very strong,” the party insider said.
“We may therefore see thousands more jumping ship if Huan decides to take a walk from the party. Many grassroots members are angry with the party leadership for taking such a drastic step without giving Huan a chance to defend himself.”
“Huan was a very vocal party member who does not hesitate to take on the leadership if they are in the wrong or if it affects the party members. Maybe because of his openness in policy matters he is being sidelined,” the insider reasoned.
“With the departure of Huan, the party is left only with members who will toe the party’s line and who do not want to antagonise the party leadership with strong criticism.”
Fourteen days to appeal suspension
In response to the suspension, Huan had stated that he was a victim of “political persecution” and he was not given a chance to defend himself.
Last month, Huan had threatened to quit Gerakan over the alleged appointment of a party coordinator in one parliamentary constituency in Penang.
There was media speculation that he may defect to PKR and the leadership had issued a show-cause letter, to which Huan had replied on June 14.
Now, the party has given him 14 days to appeal against the three-year suspension.
“Gerakan has already been weakened in the tsunami of March 8 general elections and the trend of grassroots leaders jumping ship will further weaken the party unless concrete measures are taken to arrest the growing trend of resignations in the party leadership,” the insider said.
If Huan quits, he will join a growing list of credible Gerakan leaders to have deserted the party since 2008.
Others include Gerakan stalwarts former deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon, former central committee member Toh Kin Woon, former federal territories chief Tan Kee Kwong and former women’s chief Rhina Bhar.
View Comments0