Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow seems to have no qualms about being labelled "unreasonable and undemocratic", saying such leadership style is needed to steer the coalition into the right direction.

Teng, who is Gerakan secretary-general, said he had to act a little "bossy and unreasonable" in certain situations or else work, especially in a coalition such as the BN, could not, be done.

"It means we have to be firm and (a little) non-negotiable, after we listen to people, after we amend our views, take in their opinions and alter our original ideas.

teng chang yeow gerakan secretary general "I try to cover as much ground as possible and yet if there are more views, I would have to say ‘stop, this is how we will go and this is how it should be done'.

"Even Seberang Jaya assemblyman Arif Shah Mohd Shah is very happy. He said although sometimes I appear to be undemocratic, this is the way leaders are required to be," Teng told Malaysiakini today.

He said this when asked about his interview with Chinese newspaper Oriental Daily, during which he said, "there can be only one captain, one general and one commander in Penang Gerakan and BN".

In his Facebook later, Teng said, "That person is ME! Sorry, those who don't like it, I can't help it. That is how I see myself in this position!"

Teng said he was asked on how he dealt with the different factions in Gerakan and various partners in BN - MCA, Umno and People's Progressive Party.

He did not deny that there were different factions in Gerakan Penang aligned to state party chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and former party secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye.

BN now in a 'war time'

As for his "hard approach" being completely different from that of former state BN chief Koh Tsu Koon, Teng said they were born differently.

"We grew up in different environments. We are in different situations politically. Different times need a different kind of leadership. I am in a war time," he said.

"When he (Koh) was chairman, he was in peaceful times. In such times, he can drag and drag and try to please everybody but in war time, you cannot please everybody, you can only please the majority," Teng said.

Teng expressed hope that all quarters would accept his leadership style as the whole Penang BN team was travelling in one direction - to improve the coalition's performance in the coming general election.

NONE As to whether he could be viewed as "cocky and arrogant", a description that has now stuck with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng after his deputy Mansor Othman uttered these words at closed door meeting with PKR state leaders, Teng admitted that there are instances when he was considered "undemocratic".

However, he said, this was after many discussions were held on a matter and after he had listened to various views and put his foot down as further adjustments would alter the original spirit of the matter.

"Sometimes I do not consult and say, ‘let's implement (a project)'. I tell them I would be responsible for the finances and resources.

"For example, the recent lantern festival held in various places, such as Balik Pulau. It went well, many turned up, the outcome was good and everyone was happy," he added.

53 members at BN meetings

Teng is aware that some BN people might not be happy with this approach. However decisions have to be made and there must be cut-off points after much discussion or else "it will never end".

There were 53 members (40 state and 13 parliamentary seat coordinators) at the weekly state BN meetings in Penang and all of them had ideas and opinions to express.

"What would you do in such a situation?" he asked, saying he had often been told that he was too harsh in his approach.

"I am very straight forward. When I don't like it, I would say it. I don't like to beat around the bush because if you do that, you will come around to the same thing.

"Even in my early days in politics, I was told that I am too blunt, that I have no diplomacy, no human relationship, that I just ‘taroh' (tell them off)," he added.

"I am still the same. In terms of the emotional angle, I have mellowed down a little. In terms of bluntness, still the same. I cannot change."

However, Teng denied that the state BN meetings are held in a hostile environment because at the end of day, the majority decision was accepted.

NONE The members acknowledged the fact that in some discussions, their ideas may not be accepted but in others, they would get their views across.

"We are very great now in BN. Before we hardly met like this, to gel our ideas and opinions. I am very pleased with the cooperation given to me, whether it is from MCA or Umno, I am invited me to many functions," Teng said.

"For example, I was invited to open the Umno Balik Pulau and Nibong Tebal AGMs, where they normally invite party vice-presidents, the secretary-general or ministers. That's how they have accepted my leadership."