Penang Gerakan’s internal crisis appears to be continuing to brew, despite its chairperson Teng Chang Yeow announcing on Sept 4 that the matter has been ironed out.

Today, Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said Teng has to take responsibility for the party’s losses in the general elections as he was the “captain” and the state BN chief.

He reminded Teng that Prime Minister and BN chief Najib Abdul Razak had appointed Teng as the state BN chief in Penang.

“Therefore, it is not good to blame others. Before you blame others, look into the mirror first. I am not defending Umno, but do not downgrade or hit them,” Baljit said at a press conference today.

“For once, take responsibility for what happened in Penang. Don’t take leave, and then come back. Gerakan is not a musical chair. Be responsible, or else you know where the exit door is,” he added.

Baljit (photo) was responding to Teng’s statement on Sept 10, in which he blamed Umno for BN’s lost in Penang in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

Teng was then responding to Deputy Prime Minister and Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said that the BN component parties in Penang seemed to be dependent on the Umno machinery.

Teng took a sarcastic swipe at Zahid, asking why if the Umno machinery was so good, it was not able to win Kelantan, Selangor and in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Penang.

Baljit said Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, should not blame anyone else for BN's problems in Penang.

While Gerakan, MCA and MIC did not win any seat, the fact remains that Umno won seats due to the support it has in Penang, added the senior lawyer.

'Accept decision with an open heart'

“Penang voters have made their choice and we must respect it. We have to accept the decision with an open heart.

“With due respect to MCA and MIC, the weaknesses of Gerakan, MCA and MIC have to be settled internally.

“As for Gerakan, why blame Umno? Is it because it raised issues we do not like? Then, what was Gerakan’s response to those issues?

“Also, why has no one opposed those remarks, no one spoke up? Why the silence? We must speak up when the time is right,” Baljit said.

At the Penang Gerakan delegates meeting on Sept 4, Teng said he had a four-eyed meeting with Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong, during which the party’s problems were settled.

The party was besieged with internal squabbles over the Sungai Pinang state seat, which led to national deputy secretary-general Dr Thor Teong Gee’s resignation from all party posts.

Several members spoke up to criticise party leaders for washing dirty linen in public, saying Penang Gerakan is currently led by “puppets and followers” and not by intellectuals or independent minded individuals.

To this Baljit said, “I am not at all concerned about the puppets but the puppet master.”

He said party members were still unaware of what has been “settled” between the two leaders, Teng and Mah.

“I am not saying that Teng is lying, but was anything settled at all?” he asked.