Disgruntled Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, who plans to quit the party in three weeks, is now on the verge of joining PKR.

According to sources, talks are already underway between the PKR leadership and Huan.

gerakan vice president huan cheng guan If it becomes a reality, the Gerakan Batu Kawan division chief is expected to take more than 1,000 party members with him and dismantle some 100 party branches in the process.

This would definitely lend a crushing blow to the already weakened Barisan Nasional component party.

Gerakan's central working committee (CWC) issued Huan a show-cause letter two days ago following his media outburst against the party, namely the leadership of state chief Dr Teng Hock Nan.

Contacted later, Huan said he would decide on whether or not to reply to the show-cause letter when he returns to Penang from a business trip in Kuala Lumpur.

As for the 'joining PKR' rumour, he declined to comment, apart from saying that he would consider “one thing at a time.”

Gunning for a strong post

However, sources said Huan was positioning himself for a strong deal with the PKR leadership to ensure that he will join Anwar Ibrahim's party on a high.

"Since he is Gerakan vice-president, Huan and his colleagues will definitely not come into PKR as ordinary members without any positions.

"He will want some strong posts for him and his team in PKR," said a PKR source, adding that the negotiations have been positive so far.

Huan, 48, previously served as a special officer to former Penang deputy chief minister Dr Ibrahim Saad in the early 1990s, a close aide of then deputy premier Anwar.

He was also state Gerakan and Barisan Nasional youth chief before being elected as vice-president next year. He is currently the BN backbenchers club executive secretary.

It is said that Huan's strong grassroots support courted the envy of Gerakan leaders, and this led to him being backstabbed.

Close friends of Huan said the Gerakan vice-president always felt 'sidelined, isolated and neglected' by the leadership.

Huan, a businessman, has claimed that many Gerakan leaders have lost touch with grassroots sentiments and aspirations, and do not show respect to branch and division leaders.

Sources said Huan blew his top recently when the state leadership overlooked his supporters for positions in the constituency committees of the implementation coordination unit (ICU).

ICU comes under the purview of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Since last year's electoral debacle, several Gerakan top leaders such as Lee Kah Choon and Dr Toh Kin Woon have quit the party.

Lee has been appointed as InvestPenang executive chairperson while Toh has joined PKR.

PKR leaders welcome the move

Meanwhile, local PKR leaders appear to be receptive to the possibility of Huan joining the party.

penang anti isa forum 150908 zahrain md hashim PKR state chief Zahrain Mohd Hashim, who acknowledged that Huan is a friend, said the party will welcome the Gerakan leader with open arms.

"Huan can be an asset to us due to his administrative and political experience, and given that he will bring in many Gerakan members," he said.

The Bayan Baru MP said Huan has always expressed his desire to join PKR since last year

PKR state youth chief Yusmadi Yussof also called on Huan to abandon "the fast fading Gerakan and join the rising PKR."

He believes Huan will be a valuable acquisition for PKR and the youth movement due to his experience.

"A talented grassroots leader like him should not be wasted," the Balik Pulau MP told Malaysiakini .