Penang Gerakan has thrown its support fully behind its state chief, Teng Chang Yeow, urging him to contest the party's national chief post.

State party liaison committee secretary Oh Tong Keong said the decision was made at last night's meeting in Penang.

NONEOh (right) said Teng should contest the post as he is "strong-willed, outspoken and seems (to have an) insurmountable leadership style".

He added that Teng's "great management and political experience" as state councillor, state assemblyman, political secretary to former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon and state executive member make him the best candidate for the post.

"He is the most deserving candidate for the national president's post, who may lead the party to a new political chapter, to bring the party out of its current political dilemmas, and to establish a reformed political roadmap (for the party)," said Oh, the outgoing state Youth chief, in a statement today.

Teng, when contacted by Malaysiakini, said he was mulling on the decision.

If he contests, he may face a tought battle as two other prominent leaders in the party - secretary-general Mah Siew Kong and former secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye - are said to be also eyeing the post.

Acting president Chang Ko Youn has however said today he would not be throwing his hat in the ring.

Oh said Gerakan needed a "strong leader" to develop clear policies and stabilise the party.

"During Teng's reign as state BN chief, he showed his charisma in his leadership," said Oh, who himself is eyeing the national youth chief post.

"Within a few months, he had managed to strengthen the solidarity of all BN component parties," he added.

Social media era

Oh noted that BN Penang won back the Balik Pulau parliament seat from Pakatan Rakyat under Teng's leadership, where it was previously held by PKR.

However, Teng quit his post when he lost the Bukit Tengah state seat, and failed to reverse Gerakan's fortunes in Penang by failing to recapture any seat for the party.

NONEBut Oh said Teng (far right) possesses the young energetic spirit to drive the reform, which many leaders are lacking.

"His teams are also relatively familiar with the impacts and challenges in the social media era," he added.

If Teng is given the chance to lead, he will set up a political academy to provide training courses to enhance party members' political knowledge.

These trainings, Oh stressed, will help members to effectively combat their rivals in the social media, adding that this is where Pakatan appears to be leading.

Delegates will nominate candidates for the president's post this Saturday, and will vote for their new chief on Oct 26 at the party's National Delegates Conference in Kuala Lumpur.