A group within the embattled Parti Gerakan, dubbed "voice of the grassroots", submitted 60 signatures to the state liason committee today calling for an extraordinary general meeting to get chairperson Teng Hock Nan to step down.

The group is appealing to the 393 state delegates to cast a vote of no-confidence against Teng ( below ) on Oct 10 and to decide the future direction of the party, which ruled Penang from 1969 until the March 2008 political tsunami.

According to the party constitution, a quarter of the total state delegates, or at least 50, must consent to the EGM before it can be held.

NONE According to a source, who requested anonymity, two members submitted the petition for the EGM and a press conference scheduled for this evening had been called off.

Asked why was the signatures were submitted in a low key affair, the member said it was because it was an internal party matter.

“We want to handle it in a calm, low profile and effective way,” he added.

“I hope members will not make any personal attack or drag other elements into the EGM,” he said.

“We will not organise any big function to gain support, we will just publicly urge the delegates to vote actively.”

The member said there would be no turning back and the group would not withdraw the petition for the EGM, adding, “The arrow is already on the bow. We can only release it, and not pull back anymore” as it was also impossible to ask 60 people to withdraw their signatures.

“We were the ones who called for the signatures, therefore, we have to keep our promise,” he added.

'Focus on issues that are more important'

“But we are thinking of using the slogan – Let us decide Gerakan's future – and print some banners to urge members to vote.”

When contacted, Gerakan state secretary Ong Thean Lye confirmed that the party had received the petition and would act according to its constitution.

Asked how many signatures had the party received, Ong jokingly replied, “If they said 60, then it’s 60 lah”.

Ong is currently in Kuala Lumpur and is not certain of the exact number of signatures received.

Meanwhile, Teng played down the matter and said Gerakan should focus on other issues that are more important and urgent.

“But since the group has submitted the signatures, everything has to be handled according to the party’s constitution,” Teng said.