Former PKR leader Lim Boo Chang's bid to rejoin Gerakan may hit a snag, if the response of the party's top leadership' to his intention to return is anything to go by.

Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow said he had yet to receive Boo Chang's application to rejoin the party, but added that this was the party's "lowest priority".

teng chang yeow gerakan secretary general "It is too little, too naive (for him to want to return to the party). Those who built their bridges, then burnt them, will find it difficult to be accepted back," Teng ( left ) told Malaysiakini today.

Teng, who was a former Penang state executive councillor, said the party's central executive committee (CEC) would pay little attention to the application, which Boo Chang handed in at the state Gerakan headquarters yesterday.

Teng said the next CEC meeting, a regular meeting that had been fixed months ago, may not even discuss Boo Chang's application.

'Boo Chang should get the message'

Asked whether the party was rejecting Boo Chang outright, Teng replied, "my message about the bridges should be loud and clear".

On Wednesday, Boo Chang announced his resignation as a Penang municipal councillor and ditched all his posts in PKR, citing disillusionment with the party and the Pakatan state government.

The former PKR Bukit Gelugor division chief also declared publicly his "unilateral wish" to return to Gerakan, the party in which he had been for 15 years, from 1984 to 1999.

NONE Boo Chang ( right ), a former Datuk Keramat assemblyperson, had irked party leaders from Gerakan when he left to join MCA in 1999, which he also ditched to join PKR after the 2008 general election.

Meanwhile, state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said Boo Chang, like any other citizen, had the right to association but members must hold back their personal principles when joining a political party.

The party was obliged to accept his application form, as anybody could apply to join Gerakan, even controversial Perkasa head Ibrahim Ali, Baljit said.

The party must also open its doors to those who have quit or jumped to other parties, such as former Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Toh Kin Woon, former Gerakan Wanita chief Rina Bhar and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, who is now with Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita).

A 'landscaping bureau' for frogs

"However, if Gerakan accepts Boo Chang, I will hand over the legal and human rights bureau to him to lead," he told reporters after presenting his recommendations to the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform in Penang today.

"I am not going to resign, but will start a party landscaping bureau for tadpoles, so they can later grow up to become frogs and toads," Baljit added, drawing laughter from reporters.

He said Boo Chang had nearly cost Gerakan its chief minister's post when he left the party to join MCA.

His joining the state MCA gave that more seats in the state assembly than Gerakan, and the MCA began demanding that it be given the chief minister's post.

"Boo Chang also criticised party leaders and members and burnt all his bridges, so it will not be advisable for him to return to Gerakan," the lawyer added.