SEREMBAN: Bersatu's Rahang candidate in the Negri Sembilan state election, Tang Jay Son, says he has always been a member of the party and was merely "loaned" to Gerakan to contest in Chuah in the last polls.
Responding to his sacking from Gerakan on Saturday (July 18), Tang said he became a Bersatu member in February 2021 but his party asked him to help Gerakan by standing in Chuah on its ticket, as both parties were allies in Perikatan Nasional.
"It was on a goodwill basis and I was not asked to resign.
"But when I agreed to stand in Chuah on a Gerakan ticket, the party said I needed to be a member," he said when met at his office here on Monday (July 20).
Tang said that after the August 2023 state polls, where Gerakan failed to win any of the six state seats it contested, he returned to Bersatu.
ALSO READ: Negri polls: Gerakan expels Tang Jay Son for contesting on Bersatu ticket
On Saturday, Tang filed his nomination papers to contest in Rahang under Bersatu's banner.
Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said in a statement that this constituted a serious breach of party discipline as it was contrary to the principle of loyalty, and Tang was sacked with immediate effect.
Tang said Gerakan did not issue a letter informing him of his termination.
"I have nothing against them terminating my membership but I have decided to respond as Gerakan told only half the story.
"The manner it announced this shows a lack of maturity on its part," he said.
Separately, when asked about his chances in Rahang, Tang said it was offering voters an alternative.
"We are offering ourselves as an alternative not only in Rahang but the entire state," he said.
Bersatu is vying for 24 of the 36 state seats on Aug 1.
Tang is in a four-cornered contest against incumbent Siau Meow Kong of Pakatan Harapan, Yap Siok Moy of Barisan Nasional, and S. Tinagaran of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
In August 2023, Siau won in a straight fight against Perikatan's Lee Bon Shian with a 6,432-vote majority.
