The practice of PKR elected representatives showing support for certain candidates before division polls may be a reflection of their lack of grassroots' backing and a sign of desperation rather than an accurate show of strength and popularity.

NONE PKR's Bukit Gelugor division chief-hopeful Lim Boo Chang ( right ) said such a practice should not be encouraged, as it was "dangerous and could split the party".

Lim, who is the division's current deputy-chief, said the act of several YBs supporting his opponent, incumbent division chief and Batu Uban assemblyperson S Raveentharan, merely indicated that the latter is "bankrupt of supporters".

"If he has enough (backing), does he need to get the heads of other divisions to support him and to attack me and my team?" Lim, a former Dato' Keramat assemblyperson, said.

"In a way, the YBs who were present at Raveentharan's press conference on Friday condone and approve of his actions, but their actions will only hurt themselves," he added, at a press conference today.

On Friday, four assemblypersons publicly pledged their support for Raveentharan ( below ), and appealed for members to vote the latter as he is a party loyalist.

penang pkr adun raveentharan police report They sang his praises, saying he is a good assemblyperson as he is sincere and responsive to the needs of his constituents.

The YBs were Tan Hock Leong (Bukit Mertajam), Jason Ong Khan Lee (Kebun Bunga), Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Kawan) and Sim Tze Tsin (Pantai Jerejak)

Aspersions cast

However, Lim is rather sore that Raveentharan's Team Berjiwa Rakyat continues to cast aspersions on his political background via SMS ahead of the polls on Sunday.

Lim is unfortunately perceived as a ‘frog' as he had jumped from Gerakan to MCA and joined PKR after March 2008. Indeed there are members in his own division who have not stopped questioning his loyalty to the party.

However, he said by persistently questioning his background, his detractors have made matters worse for themselves as many among them had jumped ship, too.

For example, Tan, who is currently state legislative deputy speaker, was a former state MCA leader, said Lim.

He added that Cheah Peng Guan, who is vying for the division vice-chief post, and who was present at Raveentharan's press conference, was a former loyalist of Goh Kheng Sneah, Gerakan state liason committee assistant secretary.

During the conference, Cheah had shared SMSes which his team had sent out to members, asking them to vote Raveentharan to salvage the party.

"But my question is; will they question (the background of) our party supremo Anwar Ibrahim (who was Umno deputy chief) as he had also come to support me when I was contesting the Dato Keramat seat under BN?" queried Lim.

"The act of condemning people's background goes against the wishes of Anwar who has said regardless of our histories, we are all one big family," he added.

Alleged irregularities

During a press conference on Thursday, Lim also appealed to the party leadership to supervise the elections so that similar irregularities which had allegedly happened in the Bayan Baru polls last Sunday would not recur in Bukit Gelugor, a neighbouring constituency.

Raveentharan, a lawyer, is supposedly linked and supported by Team Reformist leader and Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tsin, who have been accused as having cheated his way to victory as Bayan Baru new chief last week, which the latter had vehemently denied.

Raveentharan and his team has also denied all charges from the opposing team and claimed it was the other camp which had the dirty tricks to ensure victory.