Updated 7.11pm, 29 May 2009
PETALING JAYA, 29 May 2009: Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan has decided to quit the party, Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported today.
Huan told the Chinese daily that he was resigning because he was disappointed with the Gerakan leadership.
He said he would submit his resignation in three weeks so that his supporters would have time to consider if they would follow suit.
When asked if he would join other political parties, Huan said there are many possibilities in politics, but it’s too early to talk about it now.
He did not deny that Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam, who is also Gerakan vice-president and Penang Gerakan chief, was one of the reasons for his decision.
Huan, who is from Penang Gerakan as well, had openly called for Teng’s resignation as Penang Gerakan chief in Utusan Malaysia yesterday, over the latter’s appeal to the government to allow for former communist leader Chin Peng‘s return to Malaysia.
He had also called on Barisan Nasional top leaders to take action against Teng. However, Huan was slammed by various quarters, including Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin, for his statement.
Bernama also reported that on 24 May that trouble was brewing in Penang Gerakan as there had been reports of internal strife between Teng and Huan.
Additionally, Guang Ming Daily reported yesterday that Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon would call for a central committee meeting soon to decide if they would take any disciplinary action against Huan for his statements against Teng.
Sources revealed that Gerakan top leaders including Koh were unhappy with Huan’s recent spat over Teng.
However, Huan said he was not afraid of any consequences because what he said were true.
“If the central committee members think I was wrong, [they can] take actions against me,” Huan was quoted as saying in the Guang Ming Daily report.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Teng, who was elected as Penang Gerakan chief in September 2008, said he respects Huan’s decision to quit. Another Gerakan VP Datuk Mah Siew Keong however asked Huan to reconsider. 
