1k members quitting - Gerakan says sabotage by 'other parties'.

TG PIAI POLLS | Gerakan president Dominic Lau suspects the action taken by three party branches to quit yesterday was an act of sabotage by "other parties".

Yesterday, Tanjung Piai Gerakan division deputy chief Tey Chin Teng said he and the Rimba Terjun, Jalan Parit Masjid and Jalan Johor branches had quit with 1,000 members to protest the party's decision to contest in the by-election.

Tey had said they would be supporting BN candidate Wee Jeck Seng instead.

Speaking at a press conference in Pekan Nanas today, Lau questioned the timing of the defectors.

"They said they don't agree with the diluting of MCA votes. I want to ask, who put up a candidate first?

"Why did they only resign yesterday? They should have quit immediately once MCA said it was contesting, but why do it after nomination day?

"I suspect sabotage from other parties," he said.

Gerakan had announced that it would contest in Tanjung Piai on Oct 16 and named its candidate Wendy Subramaniam on Oct 29.

At the time BN had still not announced whether it would field a candidate from Umno or MCA. Former Tanjung Piaia MP Wee Jeck Seng was only confirmed as the BN candidate on Oct 30.

Pressed on whether he suspected the sabotage was done by MCA, Lau replied: "Don't play with sentiments, the voters will know how to differentiate."

Tey yesterday said he had received many complaints from people who said Gerakan contesting the by-election would cost Wee votes, thus prompting the defection.

However, Tanjung Piai Gerakan division chief Teo Kok Chee denied that 1,000 members were quitting together with Tey, saying it was only the latter and two other branch chiefs who are quitting.

Meanwhile, Lau said Gerakan was unable to reverse the sabotage and will instead focus on getting its message across to voters and grassroots supporters.

On a separate matter, Lau said that the party had been hearing rumours on the ground that it received RM1 million from Pakatan Harapan to contest the by-election in order to chip away at BN votes.

He said these rumours were unfounded.

"If we took such money, we would have posters and banners all over Tanjung Piai (but we don't)," he said.

Meanwhile, he also complained that the Election Commission allegedly disallowed Gerakan from campaigning or to put up posters at certain places, such as by the roadside or at markets.

Lau said such regulations should apply to all parties and not just Gerakan.

Gerakan is positioning itself in Tanjung Piai as an alternate third force to BN and Harapan.

They are also going against Berjasa and two independent candidates in the six-way contest.

Polling day for the Tanjung Piai election is on Nov 16. - Mkini