Penang Gerakan leaders have been slapped with a gag order by the central leadership for airing their dirty laundry in public, which led to the resignation of former national deputy secretary-general Dr Thor Teong Gee.

State Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow (photo above) confirmed the order, saying that it came from his party president Mah Siew Keong.

“After you write such a nice story whacking me, the gag order came in but I cannot reply,” Teng said when met in Tasek Gelugor yesterday.

Teng, who is also state BN chief, was referring to a Malaysiakini report on Saturday headlined “Led by ‘puppets’, Gerakan members say party in critical crisis”, where past and current leaders claimed that the party was in a “critical crisis”.

They also claimed that the party was being led by followers and not independent-minded or intellectual leaders.

“These are people who are sleeping, you write; why don’t you write about active members,” Teng said, referring to former state Gerakan Wanita chief Rowena Yam, Pulau Tikus branch chief Dr Tan Boon Cheong and grassroots leader Rajesh Calais.

The trio expressed their disappointment with the party after Thor threw in the towel when he was publicly criticised by state acting chairman Oh Tong Keong (photo) over his candidacy for the Sungai Pinang seat.

Thor had offered the seat to Oh, who is also state vice-chairman, but Oh continued to tell the media why the doctor was not suitable for the state seat under the Jelutong parliamentary constituency.

Oh also referred to a statement made by Teng at the Jelutong Gerakan annual general meeting on Aug 14, where the Teng chided party veterans and the central leadership for interfering in the candidacy list.

Asked if the party president would be trying to salvage the situation in Gerakan, Teng said: “Is the problem that serious? I don’t see it as a big issue.”

On how a gag order would help resolve the problems in Gerakan, he replied: “I do not know. If there is an issue, then we would have to resolve it.”

Asked if he was consulted on the need for the gag order, Teng said: “No. The president has the absolute authority to issue the order; he does not have to consult anybody.”

On why Gerakan often condemned DAP when the party called for a moratorium among its members on certain issues, Teng said: “You expect me to condemn my president and get myself suspended? Is this what you want to see?”