Penang Gerakan wants Teng Chang Yeow to remain, chairman

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan wants its chairman Teng Chang Yeow to continue leading the party although he had expressed his intention to retire from politics.
Its vice-chairman, Oh Tong Keong, said the severe defeat in the general election of the Barisan Nasional (BN), of which Gerakan is a component party, could not be attributed to Gerakan alone as it was caused by a people's 'tsunami'.
"After reviewing the outcome of the general election, we think the defeat is because of the 'tsunami', not because of the state chairman's weak leadership," he told a press conference here today.
Oh also said that the responsibility of reviving the glory of the party was a shared responsibility.
"In order to continue the party's struggle, we need a talented, capable leader of calibre to lead us. Members of the party's 13 divisions want Teng to remain at the helm," he said.
Oh said the party would hold a special meeting next week to discuss current issues and the direction the party was going to take.
"If Teng insists that he does not want to hold office (as chairman), it is up to the members to make their choice in the party elections which will be held in September," he said.
The BN won only two parliamentary and two state seats in Penang in the general election. Pakatan Harapan retained the state by winning 37 of the 40 state seats. It also won 11 parliamentary seats in the state. — Bernama