Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan has decided to quit the party in three weeks time, citing dissatisfaction with the party leadership, and claims the party grassroot members will follow suit.

The former Penang Gerakan Youth chief hinted that he, together with other party supporters, would join another party, with the Pakatan Rakyat coalition is seen as a likely ‘marriage' candidate.

gerakan vice president huan cheng guan He however declined to confirm persisting rumours that he was on the way to Pakatan, a similar strategy adopted by several former Gerakan leaders such as Lim Boo Chang.

He claimed he would take with him a few thousand supporters resulting in closure of at least 100 party branches across the country.

Huan's quit threat is set to split the undercurrents and flung Gerakan into a first major crisis since it suffered a collosal electoral debacle in the last general election in 2008.

Internal trouble was brewing over the past one year as Huan's outspoken, frank views and opinions on contentious issues were not well received by the Gerakan ruling elites.

Huan, also a businessman, cited inconceivable differences between him and certain leaders, especially Penang chief Dr Teng Hock Nan, were the major reasons for his sudden decision to quit the party.

"Many party leaders have lost touch with the grassroots sentiments and aspirations," Huan told Malaysiakini .

"They aren't showing any respect to branch and division leaders," he added, suggesting that these leaders were overstaying their party positions.

Huan, 48, poured scorn on Teng for being in a state of denial over his declining approval rating among party grassroots.

"I will take along with me thousands of party members to show Dr Teng that his popularity had nosedived among grassroots," said Huan, who joined Gerakan in 1991.

He was the party Youth chief in Penang between 1999 and 2008.

A popularity contest

When contacted, Teng said he would respect Huan's decision but asked why the elected vice-president needed three weeks to officially quit.

"He can always submit his resignation anytime regardless the three-week period," said Teng, a former party vice-president.

Huan said he needed the three-week grace period to collect feedbacks from party grassroots and allow the supporters to make their mind on whether or not to follow him.

It's learnt that the feud was triggered by Teng and several state leaders who overlooked Huan's supporters for positions in the constituency committees of the implementation coordination unit (ICU).

gerakan agm koh tsu koon pc 03.JPG ICU comes under the purview of Minister in Prime Minister's Department and Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon (right) is in charge of performance and unity.

Huan hit out at Teng and several leaders that they were running the party like a private limited company among themselves without listening to grassroots agenda.

Since last year's electoral debacle, the Batu Kawan division vice-chairperson pointed out that many leaders at top and grassroots levels have decided to quit Gerakan to join other parties, especially in Pakatan, or retired prematurely from active politics.

Huan said Gerakan would be a party devoid of grassroots members once he lead his group of supporters to quit from the party.

"The current leaders hardly have their own grassroots support and they will realise it once I had left.

"I have decided to quit in three weeks and will not change my mind, at least not at the moment," said Huan, the Prai branch chairperson.

Huan was the Batu Kawan parliamentarian between 2004 and 2008 and was once a special officer to then deputy chief minister Dr Ibrahim Saad in Penang government (1990-95).

He lost to Law Choo Kiang in the Bukit Tambun state seat duel in 2008 and is currently the executive secretary in Barisan Nasional Back Benchers's Club.