The three-year suspension of Gerakan’s outspoken vice-president Huan Cheng Guan is unconstitutional, according to three party branches in Penang.

Describing the decision as being made by "hanging judges in a kangaroo court", the branches – Taman Supreme, Batu Kawan and Stadium – also slammed the suspension as against the will of grassroots sentiments.

In a joint statement issued at a press conference in Bukit Tambun today, the leaders of the three branches - V Sivaperumal, P Velaendran and K Prabhakaran - said the party was already in disarray due to the suspension meted out according to the whims and fancies of certain leaders.

huan cheng guan The trio alleged that the central working committee (CWC) had not adhered to the party constitutional rules when it deliberated and executed the suspension.

They gave the party leadership a three-week ultimatum to lift Huan's suspension, resolve the controversy and restore confidence within the party.

Or else, they warned of reconsidering their political future in Gerakan, including quitting and dissolving their branches en bloc.

It's learnt that 11 Indian-dominated branches and some 10,000 Indian members in Penang Gerakan would follow them out of the party.

They plan to join the soon-to-be announced political bandwagon of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar.

Sivaperumal, Valaendran and Prabhakaran claimed that the Gerakan disciplinary committee should have convened a meeting to hear out Huan in person and his explanation to the show cause letter issued by the leadership on June 1.

"The committee was supposed to call up Huan and other witnesses before making a decision on the issue. However, this was not done," they said.

Observers influenced the decision

The trio also alleged that two observers at the CWC meeting last weekend also intervened and influenced the decision.

"We heard that the observers compelled the CWC to suspend Huan when they have no right to do so," they said.

Both the observers were very senior party leaders, they claimed.

The branches, comprising some 500 members, also criticised party president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and secretary general Teng Chang Yeow for not having the courage to reveal the truth about the suspension to the media.

"Gerakan members have the right to know the reasons behind the CWC’s unfair decision. But Koh and Teng dare not defend their own decision," said the three leaders.

"How can Koh promote national unity and quality performance through his ministerial post when he cannot even keep his own party united?" they asked.

Sivaperumal, Velaendran and Prabhakaran also accused the CWC of taking a drastic action against Huan merely to please certain quarters, both at national and state levels.

"They felt threatened by Huan's outspoken ways, political credibility and performance," they said.

"Grassroots leaders were working hard to restore public confidence in Gerakan and Barisan Nasional. But Gerakan leaders’ antics are damaging our efforts," they added.

They said if the party leadership was serious in resolving the crisis, it should first review and re-compose Gerakan members in constituency committees of the implementation coordination unit (ICU).

The ICU comes under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.

The trio claimed that Gerakan members who failed to attend any meeting for the past two years have been retained in the ICU.

The ICU was among the main reasons behind Huan's disgruntlement towards the party leadership.

"Gerakan leaders have failed to learn from the disastrous 2008 general election," said the three branch leaders.