Gerakan’s 1Malaysia Bureau, headed by members of the party’s Youth wing, wants the party to press the ‘refresh’ button by getting rid of state chairperson Teng Hock Nan.

NONE Bureau chairperson Dalbinder Singh Gill said that after 20 years of leading Gerakan Penang, Teng may have won enough votes within the party to become its state chairperson, but he had lost legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

According to public opinion, said Dalbinder, Gerakan needs to be refreshed, and Teng is aware of the sentiments on the ground.

“But he is in a state of denial because he claims to have the support of party delegates,” he added.

Dalbinder said Teng is out of touch with the young crowd as he is nowhere in social networking platforms popular with youths such as Facebook or Twitter.

“No wonder you can count how many new young people (there are) like me, or those around 20 years old of age, (who) have joined Penang Gerakan,” he added.

“When the computer hangs, press the refresh button as a temporary solution. If it gets worst, must be virus, better reformat,” he added, using the allegory of the computer to explain the current situation of the party.

teng hock nan comments on egm 160910 On Friday, a group within the party dubbed the "voice of the grassroots", submitted 60 signatures to the state liaison committee calling for an extraordinary general meeting to get Teng ( right ) to step down.

The group is appealing to the 393 state delegates to cast a vote of no-confidence against Teng on Oct 10 and to decide on the future direction of the party, which ruled Penang from 1969 until the March 2008 political tsunami.

Dalbinder said he fully supported the move to hold an EGM and urged all delegates to have in mind the voice of the youth within and outside the party.

“Let’s prove him (Teng) wrong by winning back Gerakan's traditional electorate in the next general election by exerting a new image.

“But before that, oust him. The party urgently needs cleaning up.

"I'm sure, by popular demand, the next possible chairperson of Penang Gerakan, will take the party to greater heights in line with the party constitution and ideology,” he added.

Gerakan Youth members are also sore that Teng had told the media the party may lose in the next general elections, speculated to be called early next year.

“To me, it is a big slap to the hard work of a few notable party members, whom, that I know, have been working tirelessly since March 8 to put Gerakan back on track,” said Dalbinder, who is a law student.

Teng has played down the matter, saying Gerakan should focus on other issues of greater important and urgency.

"But since the group has submitted the signatures (for the EGM), everything has to be handled according to the party's constitution," Teng said.