Penang Gerakan has issued letters to three grassroots leaders seeking their response as to whether they have resigned from the party.

The party's central committee sent the letters recently, following a news report that the trio had handed in their resignations.

The leaders are Kepala Batas division chief and former Seberang Perai municipal councillor Jeffrey Beh Kim Hee and branch heads Ooi Liang Chye and Chew Chee Huat.

Chew is reportedly a member of ‘Voice of the Grassroots' - a movement that has been vocal against state chief Teng Hock Nam's leadership.

penang gerakan egm 101010 teng chang yeow However, party secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow ( centre, in glasses ) said these were not show-cause letters as claimed by the media.

As the party did not officially receive their resignations, it would not rely on a newspaper report to ascertain whether they had quit the party, he said.

"That is why we are seeking their responses by letter. If they fail to respond within 14 days from the date of the letter, the party will proceed to present the news report as proof of their resignation," Teng said.

"The central committee will make the final decision."

Beh, when contacted, said he had yet to receive the letter, but deemed himself as having already quit the party.

He said he would not reply to the letter, if he received it, "as it is up to them to take action".

Saying he would not be party-hopping in the near future, he added, "Gerakan does not deserve my response."

Ooi said he had received the letter, but would not reply.

'No action against Keng Yaik for damaging statements'

"Parti Gerakan is a party of triple standards. Former national adviser Lim Keng Yaik and son made so many damaging statements against Gerakan in the press, yet no action and no show-cause letter was sent to them," he said via SMS.

lim keng yaik interview 280408 06 "Lim ( left ) had even branded party president Koh Tsu Koon an ostrich... I believe the best thing for the whole central committee to do is to jump into the sea and drown themselves," he added.

Ooi questioned their principles, transparency, justice and fairness and accused the current leadership of being "power crazy and arrogant".

He added that the rakyat would definitely vote Gerakan out in the next general, and that the party would also be a liability to its partners in the BN as it had "incompetent and useless leaders".

Chew, meanwhile, has responded to the letter and has confirmed his membership in the party.

"I never said I wanted to quit," he claimed, adding that the news report quoted "sources", without verifying the facts with him.

"Although the press published a clarification later, perhaps the party overlooked it".

'Party leaders practise factionalism'

Chew said he had sacrificed a lot in setting up the party's branch, and gave his assurance that he would not be quitting Gerakan.

He advised party leaders "not to play tricks" as the general election was around the corner, adding that "leaders will only become leaders when they gain grassroots support".

"I have submitted my letter. If they accept it, I will stay, otherwise, I will leave with a whole group of people," he said, and went on to denounce the top leadership for practising "factionalism".

"The grassroots only want Gerakan to win back its seats, they are not asking for positions," he added.

In an immediate response, Teng denied there was a witch-hunt in the party and declined to comment further on the matter, saying that the issue was being handled by the central leadership.