Dr Teng is new Penang Gerakan chief

GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan beat party secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye narrowly in state party polls here to become the new state Gerakan chairman.

He beat Chia by only 10 votes, garnering 166 votes from 344 delegates present at the 2008 State Gerakan Delegates Conference at Gerakan Headquarters at Macalister Road here on Sunday.

The third contender for the post Bukit Gelugor Gerakan division chairman Cheang Chee Gooi received 21 votes.

Dr Teng said he was not the winner, nor was Chia and Cheang the losers because the sole victor was the party.

“We have nothing in the state government after the March general elections. All the assets we have are our loyal members, who will now determine Gerakan’s future.

“In unity we shall rebuild the party and lead it to the next level,” he said in his thank you speech.

When asked if he would offer Chia any state party post, Dr Teng said his main priority now as state chairman was to unite both senior and junior Gerakan members.

“On who would become state deputy chairman and secretary, we will first have to discuss with the party leadership and divisions before making any decision,” he said.

On whether he would eye higher party posts at the national level, he said he had not decided and was a “last-minute” kind of person.

Chia said he was not surprised with the results as he went into the race believing that he had a 50-50 chance.

There was only one spoilt vote.

Earlier at the conference, newly-elected Negri Sembilan Gerakan Youth division chief Chai Tek Loong announced that he would be running for the Gerakan Youth wing top post, while Penang Gerakan’s’new Youth chief Oh Tong Keong would be going for the number two post.

-The Star Online