Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan has resigned from the party with immediate effect, although his deadline to the party to lift his three-year suspension has yet to expire.

gerakan agm ndc 111008 huan cheng guan Speaking to reporters in the Parliament lobby, Huan also indicated that he has "80 percent" made up his mind to join the newly-formed Penang-based party Parti Cinta Malaysia.

"I gave an ultimatum two weeks ago to Gerakan to lift my suspension…but I received word that I would be sacked, so (it is) better for me to sack them first,” he said.

However, his resignation comes as no surprise to beleaguered Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon, who has been crossing swords with Huan over many party issues.

"It was not unexpected. I wish him good luck and all the best in the new PCM party," he said when approached by the press.

Huan, who looked relieved when he made his announcement, predicted that his popularity among Gerakan members will soar following his resignation.

"All of you know, I was suspended because I raised issues concerning the grassroots…if I cannot even do that, there is no point in my staying on in the party.”

Huan was suspended from the Barisan Nasional component party in June for outbursts against his colleagues, in the wake of Gerakan’s losses to Pakatan Rakyat in the last general election.

‘Gerakan directionless’

Huan also took the opportunity to lash out at Gerakan, saying it “lacks direction” as it only rubber-stamps decisions made by the BN top leadership.

Penang Gerakan has therefore lost support among Penangites because the leadership "is no longer marketable".

"Even if you put it in a pasar malam (night market) or lelong (auction it, no one will buy it. You’ll know (who I am talking about) if you ask the people in Penang," he said.

koh tsu koon pc 300409 "There is no hope for Gerakan and it will only burden BN. Even in the last general election, I made way for Koh ( right, to contest) in Batu Kawan parliamentary seat. He lost the seat and where he is now? How many times has he come to Batu Kawan?"

Huan said there is no need for him to tender his resignation by submitting a letter to the party.

"I met the secretary-general two days (ago) at a function in Penang and I told him I wanted to resign. He said that, if I want to resign, there's no need for a letter.

"I think that is fine because Gerakan consists of intellectuals, professors, doctors…of course they don't need a letter to find out about this," he said sarcastically.

Sec-gen's reminder to members

Meanwhile in Penang, Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow expressed disappointment over Huan's decision.

But, he said he accepted Huan's decision and wished him well on his future political undertakings.

He added that Huan had jumped the gun by assuming that the party would sack him.

The secretary-general said the party's three-man special committee comprising of Chan Chong Tat as chairperson, Ng Lip Yong and Chee See Choke, would have met on Dec 19 to review Huan's suspension.

Teng said he and Huan were invited to give their viewpoint at the special committee meeting.

"The party has never considered to sack Huan. It's his own imagination," he said.

When asked if Gerakan would have lifted his suspension, Teng said the party had not decided on that matter despite Huan's 'lift or I leave' ultimatum to the party on Dec 10.

He also said he hoped party members would not leave the party to follow Huan but would put the party above personalities.

"Leaders come and go, but the party stays. Huan's supporters should realise it," said Teng.

Former PKR Ngemah state assemblyperson Gabriel Adit Demong joined PCM recently.

[With additional reporting from Athi Veerangan]