Hours before the Penang Gerakan delegates pick their new chief tomorrow, the main challenger for the post Baljit Singh expressed sadness that a senior leader of the party had endorsed "factionalism" instead of unity.

Baljit said he campaigned for uniting the party on a multi-racial platform but former secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye was promoting factionalism by openly endorsing Teng Chang Yeow for the post.

NONE "I want to give Gerakan members an alternative by voting for me. I want to give them a new product, and a new team," he told Malaysiakini .

"Teng has been given a chance and tested, but he has failed," Baljit said, and went on to express regret that Chia ( left ) called his candidacy "an afterthought".

"I have called Chia many times but he has not replied or responded to my phone calls or messages," Baljit lamented.

"Since he went to the press, I am reaching out to him now to urge him to stop factionalism in the interest of the party," he added.

"I ask that the delegates decide only on one thing tomorrow: whether they want to continue the old product or go with a new one," he said.

Baljit said this in response to Chia's call for Teng to be given a chance to lead the party in Penang and that it would be better if there was no contest for the post.

Chia said at least Teng had been responsible when he resigned from the post after losing his Bukit Tengah state seat in the May 5 general election.

Teng has not only gained the support of Chia for the Gerakan state chief's post but that of 10 division leaders and state Youth chief Oh Tong Keong as well.

Baljit, on the other hand, has been publicly supported by three divisional chiefs, including the state Gerakan secretary.

Chia claimed to know of "happenings behind the scene" before nomination day last week and said Baljit may have been pressured to act as a proxy for the old guards, especially outgoing state chief Dr Teng Hock Nan.