Former state Gerakan chairman Tan Gim Hwa rejoins party

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Former Penang Gerakan chairman Tan Gim Hwa has rejoined the party, 14 years after his membership was terminated due to disciplinary problems, state Barisan Nasional chief Teng Chang Yeow announced recently.

 Previously, Tan was a staunch enemy of Gerakan's current president Dr Koh Tsu Koon when Tan supported the later's rival Dr Goh Cheng Teik in his bid to wrest the Penang state Gerakan chairmanship in a stiff contest.

 Dr Goh, however lost the contest to Dr Koh who got the back up from the then party president the late Dr Lim Keng Yaik. Tan who was then issued a show-caused letter by the Gerakan's disciplinary committee over his continuous opposition to Dr Koh's state leadership. Tan was later partyless after he left Gerakan. Tan, is a Gerakan veteran and considered one of the founders of the party.

 What would be the best impact for Tan's re-entry into Gerakan? Politically, he is a leader of the past, well known for his strong bureaucratic style of leadership in the party during his years of chairmanship and his presidency in the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP). During Tan's era, Gerakan's leadership was concentrated into two segment, state party chairmanship was held by Tan, while the chief minister's post was held by the late Dr Lim Chong Eu. Tan had also contested in the previous general elections but he has never won any of the contests.

 It was believed that, with Tan's re-entry into Gerakan, it would help to strengthen the state BN chief Teng's position in both Penang Gerakan and the state coalition in his rivalry against the current Penang Gerakan chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan. Tan, by rejoining Gerakan, however, would not be an electoral favourite if he were to be contesting in the coming general elections.

 The other issue is, with Tan back into Gerakan after being partyless for 14 years, will he re-energise his rivalry against Dr Koh (former rival) in order to unseat the later as party president? He may not do it directly but many observers from within the party believe he will engineer some sort of move from the back stage by putting forward a younger leader to lead to move against Dr Koh. Who would be Tan's choice is not yet seen as it is still early to predict his subsequent move.

 Asides, it is also unclear if the majority of Tan's staunch supporters would follow suit to rejoin Gerakan in meantime.

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