GE14 | Penang Gerakan will allow candidates who have tried to challenge its leadership in the past party poll, said state Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow.

"They (the challengers) are on the list of candidates for GE14 (14th general election).

"When the time comes, we will let you know," Teng told Malaysiakini after a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters in Jalan Macalister yesterday, in response to a question whether his challengers will get a shot during the general election.

Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh had challenged Teng for the state leadership in the 2013 party poll but lost by about 30 votes.

Baljit, who is a lawyer by profession, has been appointed the constituency coordinator for Jelutong but it is uncertain if he will be fielded as a candidate for the parliamentary seat since he lost in the 2013 challenge.

He and several others are aligned with former Gerakan state chief Dr Teng Hock Nan, who faced a non-confidence vote by the party's grassroots in 2010.

After Hock Nan stepped down, Chang Yeow replaced him and was also made the state BN chief in 2013.

At the press conference, Teng also denied there was a rift between him and Baljit (photo), saying they were in many programmes together.

"He was with me during the court case brought by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng against me, he was there with me during clan association dinners," Teng said.

Accompanying Teng at the press conference was Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong.

Mah said internal squabbles were normal during party elections and said party leaders and members were nevertheless, united.