Penang Gerakan's recent major restructuring process has led to rife speculation that the party’s state chairman Teng Chang Yeow is making an exit from the post.

It is learnt that Teng will, however, keep his state BN chief post.

But Teng may not be leaving anytime soon, although it is speculated he will hand in his resignation letter as state chairperson at the coming state Gerakan meeting.

When contacted, Teng did not outrightly deny the matter, saying “I have to go one day”.

Teng told Malaysiakini: “There is nothing wrong for them to guess or conclude that this is part of the process before I go. I have to go one day.

“I am also reading the political pulse of state and party and I fully understand how it will develop, so I have to prepare myself to go as well.

“I am not going to control the party as if it is my father’s party. If the time comes and I have to go, I will willingly let go. There is life after politics. Yes, I am preparing myself to go.

“Every leader must prepare to go. The only question is when and how, for which I have yet to find the answers.”

Teng said the restructuring of the state party is to give the young ones a platform to perform as they need to carry the party beyond the 14th general election (GE14).

Restructuring the party at state level is a rejuvenation process, to allow young ones to perform, and that the leadership cannot just wait for party elections to do this.

“Now we are not in government, we do not have a training ground for youngsters. In the past, our young members were given councillor posts to perform and learn the political manoeuvring.

“So, I appointed them as spokespersons for all the issues relevant to state so that they learn and can understand the issues in-depth as I don’t want them to simply make comments when they don't have knowledge on a particular issue. They must understand before they open their mouths,” Teng added.

Gerakan has decided to postpone the national and state leadership elections - which are to take place this year - in order to prepare for GE14.

Party members are concerned about succession after Teng, following the resignation of at least two key leaders, former state Gerakan Wanita chief Rowena Yam and Yeap Ban Choon of Geraklah Gerakan, a grassroots leader.

Other leaders who have challenged the leadership in Penang, such as Baljit Singh, appear to have little role in Penang as he is not even selected as a candidate for the general election, despite being Gerakan's laws and human rights bureau national chairperson.

Effort to unite all factions

Party members feel that to have serious intention to revive the Penang Gerekan - which led the state government until 2008 - there must be effort to unite all factions and bring in more intellectuals into the party’s leadership.

They feel that the party needs leaders who can articulate burning issues well in Bahasa Malaysia and English if they want to speak in the Dewan Negeri and face the likes of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Or else, we’ll end up as a laughing stock,” said one senior party member.

When contacted, state Gerakan vice-chairperson Oh Tong Keong said the speculation about Teng leaving his post “are just rumours”.

Oh is speculated to take over as the state Gerakan chief, but he denied it.

“Teng is running the party as usual. The party in Penang went through some restructuring because we want young people to come up, to give them chance to take new positions,” he added.

“It is also a mix of veterans and young people."

In a statement issued on April 16, Teng said he has appointed new spokespersons for the party in Penang.

They are Ng Woan Shyan (finance), H’ng Khoon Leng (anti-corruption and land), Teo Yin Horng (economics), Loh Kit Moon (environment), Soon Kok Wah (anti-terrorism) and Shirley Teoh Chin Ching (social media).

New faces leading the party’s various bureaus are Ooi Zhi Yi (publicity and resource), Ooi Pei Nar (party engagement) and Khor Siang Beng (service). Baljit continues to lead the legal bureau.

Jason Loo takes over the acting Youth chief post while H’ng Chee Wey, who had quit the post, is now state Gerakan secretary. Ng Woan Shyan is his assistant and Ng Fook On is the treasurer.

Hartini Tan Abdullah, who is also a vice-chairperson, is now the state Gerakan Wanita chief.