PETALING JAYA: Gerakan has suspended its Johor chapter with immediate effect after it unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Johor state election without the approval of the party's central leadership.
In a statement Saturday (June 27), Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said the party's central leadership committee, chaired by president Dominic Lau, convened an emergency meeting on Friday to deliberate on the Johor chapter's decision to sit out the July 11 polls.
Wong said the committee unanimously agreed that the move constituted serious misconduct as it violated party discipline, the principle of collective leadership and procedures stipulated under the party constitution.
"As such, the committee unanimously decided to suspend the Johor Gerakan committee with immediate effect pending further investigation and follow-up action," said Wong.
The committee also appointed deputy president Oh Tong Keong as acting Johor Gerakan chief to ensure continuity in the state's administration and oversee preparations for the election in support of its Perikatan Nasional allies.
Wong urged party members to remain calm, respect the leadership's decision and focus on campaigning for Perikatan candidates in the Johor state election.
Earlier, Johor Gerakan announced that it would not contest the July 11 state election, with its chairman Teo Kok Chee describing the decision as a "collective, rational choice" made in the broader interests of Perikatan.
Party vice-president Koo Shiaw Lee later said the decision was based on the party's level of preparedness and other considerations, dismissing speculation that it stemmed from dissatisfaction over the seats allocated to Gerakan.
Koo said there was no dissatisfaction as the seats allocated were those proposed earlier by the Johor chapter itself.
