ALOR STAR: DAP Kota Darul Aman assemblyman Teh Swee Leong has dared Gerakan make a bold and courageous decision to leave Perikatan Nasional.
He said Gerakan leaders should take heed of PN election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's call for the party to just leave the coalition.
"If the Gerakan national leaders believe that their interest is no longer relevant and being protected in PN, then it is better for Gerakan to just accept Sanusi's call to leave the coalition with an open heart," he said in a statement today.
Teh also singled out the sole Gerakan representative in the state government, Wong Chia Zhen, to state his stand over the party's fall-out with Pas.
"Don't just argue on social media but still sit at the same table in the current Kedah state government led by Sanusi.
"Gerakan must prove its courage and stop wasting time and resources to retain its only executive councillor seat in the Kedah government if the party feels that the principle and value it has been fighting for are no longer aligned to the policies of Pas or PN coalition.
"Since your partner in the PN coalition has called on you to leave, why must you stay on in an uncomfortable situation?" he said.
Teh added that Gerakan should listen to the voice of its supporters and voters.
"If there is no more mutual understanding, it is better off for Gerakan to take bold action by leaving the coalition.
"Only by doing so, Gerakan will be able to prove its commitment towards the justice and equality principles, while proving that they are not afraid of taking action for the sake of the people," he said.
Wong is the sole Gerakan lawmaker in Kedah after wresting Kulim seat from PKR in the state election held in August last year.
He currently holds the Human Resources, Chinese, Indian and Siamese Affairs and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) portfolios in the state government.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Wong declined to comment.
"As mentioned by the Menteri Besar, everything will be settled internally," he said in a brief text reply to the NST.
Yesterday, Sanusi told Gerakan that the party may leave the coalition whenever it wishes.
While stressing that Pas would never push Gerakan out of the coalition, he said the party may just leave if it strongly feels like doing so.
Sanusi was responding to a recent statement from Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong, who said his party would not mind quitting PN to defend Chinese education and if the coalition partners do not respect the rights of non-Muslims.