GERAKAN ELECTIONS: Odds in favour of non-Chinese for Veep posts

Dr Teng Hock Nan

PETALING JAYA (Oct 9, 2008) :The odds are in favour of the non-Chinese candidates in the nine-horse race for the Gerakan vice-president posts after incumbent Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan pulled out of the contest, China Press reported today.

Party insiders said Teng's pullout, which is aimed at strengthening the multi-racial approach of the party, has caused some interesting shift in support for the candidates.

Last week, 10 candidates filed their nominations to contest the three vice-president's posts, i.e. six Chinese, three Indians and one bumiputra.

Teng's withdraw from the race on Tuesday changed the ratio of the candidates' racial make-up to 5:3:1.

In announcing his withdrawal from the contest, Teng, who is now the Penang Gerakan chief, said he was doing it "in order to further promote and project the party's multi-racialism for all Malaysians, which can be best represented by three vice-presidents".

Dr Asharuddin Ahmad

"It is my sincere hope that all national delegates can vote for a more multi-racial Gerakan for all Malaysians in the coming party elections."

Party insiders said Teng's "advice" is likely to be well taken by the delegates, thus raising the odds in favour of the non-Chinese candidates, especially the lone Malay candidate Dr Asharuddin Ahmad, the first bumiputra to contest such a high post in the Chinese-dominated party.

"Asharuddin is expected to be elected with the highest number of votes. After all, the party has not seen a Malay at its top leadership before," said a party insider.

Asharuddin,, the 49-year-old chief operating officer of International College of Health Sciences, is

G. Parameswaran

a committee member from Selangor Gerakan.

Of the three Indian candidates, incumbent Datuk Dr. S. Vijaya Ratnam is expected to be re-elected. The others -- Ampang and Bukit Indah Gerakan division chairman G. Parameswaran and party Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy — are not likely to put up a credible fight at the party elections on Sunday.

"Given this scenario, there will only be one seat left for the five Chinese candidates, making it extremely tough fight for them," added the insider.

The five are out-going Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong; Youth vice-chairman Huan Cheng Guan, former Sabah chief Datuk Robin Loh, Selangor vice-chairman Datuk Dr Lim Thuang Seng and former Selangor chief Datuk Lum Weng Keong.