Recently, I read the news where Penang exco member YB Lim Hock Seng will be debating Gerakan MP Liang Teck Meng. This was after his refusal to debate with Penang Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo.

I am a Gerakan member in Penang and a staunch supporter of Gerakan during the late Dr Lim Chong Eu’s time. I would like to take this opportunity to give my thoughts over the debate and its implication to Penang Gerakan’s future.

My first thought was why must the Gerakan national leadership send a non-Penangite to debate over a matter concerning Penang? Prior to this, I’m not fully aware of the stature of YB Liang Teck Meng except that he’s a Gerakan Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam, Johor.

Although he is also the secretary-general of Gerakan, his national stature is not comparable to other past Gerakan secretaries-general like YB Chia Kwang Chye or even Teng Chang Yeow who were more prominent during their time.

I believe this debate challenge was started by Penang Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo who had been highlighting the key issues concerning the proposed Penang tunnel.

The debate is certainly good for a transparent government in Penang. But the question is why must the Gerakan national leadership send their leader from Johor to debate a matter concerning Penang? I do not recall how YB Liang Teck Meng has been involved in the Penang tunnel issue before all this.

To me, such a move sends a message as if there is no capable leader in Penang Gerakan to debate Penang matters.

The Gerakan national leadership should groom local young leaders in Penang and not suppress their talents.

If the Gerakan national leadership has any intention to revive Penang Gerakan back to its glory days, they must groom Penang local leaders to lead the state. The Gerakan national leadership should stop taking over the role of local Penang Gerakan leaders.

I hope that Gerakan secretary-general YB Liang Teck Meng from Johor would do the honourable thing and allow Gerakan Penangites to deal with Penang matters.