Report: Gerakan president told to leave Perikatan’s Penang event as not invited, but party says no tiff with PAS

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau was last night asked to leave an event in Sungai Dua, Penang held by Perikatan Nasional (PN) — the coalition that his party is under — as he was not officially invited, local news reports said.

According to national daily Berita Harian (BH), it had received confirmation from Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong that the party had not been invited to attend and that he too had only known about the “Ceramah Mega PN Best” event through live streaming on social media platform Facebook.

“Based on my understanding, this event may have been for PAS only and maybe they did not invite us as it was organised at a Malay-majority location or only wanted Malay speakers,” he was quoted saying to BH.

Oh reportedly said Gerakan and Penang PAS had good ties, but said it would not be unusual for those among the party grassroots to feel discontent.

“We are not quarrelling. Gerakan with Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff; PAS state secretary Iszuree Ibrahim and PAS leaders of other states are OK too.

“But a feeling of dissatisfaction among the respective grassroots is normal in politics,” he was quoted as saying by BH, before reportedly adding that PN component parties PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia actually have an “OK” relationship and cooperation but that it would be normal for slight discontent among component parties.

According to BH, the event last night was attended by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Penang Bersatu chief and PN’s candidate for the Penanti state seat, PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad and PAS candidates for the state election.

Lau, who is contesting the Bayan Lepas state seat in Penang, is also the Penang PN chief and PN deputy chairman.

It was previously reported that Lau’s candidacy for the Bayan Lepas seat under PN was embroiled in controversy, with Bayan Lepas PAS members being opposed to him as they had expected Iszuree to be fielded in that Malay-majority seat for PN.

But Lau reportedly said he had reached out to Iszuree via WhatsApp over the issue before nomination day, adding that it was only a misunderstanding and miscommunication that should be resolved internally.

Polling day for the state elections in Penang and five other states — Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan — will be on August 12.