Gerakan suspends Johor chapter for pulling out of state polls

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan today announced the immediate suspension of its Johor chapter for withdrawing from contesting the state election without the central leadership’s approval.

Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said the central leadership committee, led by party president Dominic Lau, held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the Johor chapter’s unilateral decision to sit out the state polls.

“The committee unanimously viewed that the action constituted serious misconduct as it violated party discipline, the principle of collective leadership, and the procedures stipulated under the party constitution.

“Therefore, the committee unanimously decided to suspend the Johor Gerakan committee with immediate effect pending further investigation and follow-up action,” Wong said in a statement.

The committee also decided to appoint party deputy president Oh Tong Keong as acting Johor Gerakan chief to ensure administrative continuity and oversee preparations for the state election, in support of its Perikatan Nasional allies.

Wong urged all party members to remain calm, respect the organisation’s decision, and focus on campaign efforts for PN candidates in the Johor state election.

Johor Gerakan had previously announced the decision to skip the July 11 polls, with the states chairman, Teo Kok Chee, describing it as a “collective, rational choice that prioritises PN’s broader interests”.

Party vice-president Koo Shiaw Lee then said Gerakan’s decision to sit out the state election was made after considering its preparedness, among other factors, dismissing claims it was due to dissatisfaction with the allotted seats.

Koo said there was no “dissatisfaction” because the seats they were allocated were the ones that the party’s Johor chapter had proposed earlier.