The former Penang Barisan Nasional chief, who had resigned from all his political posts following the dismal showing of the party during the May 5 general election, beat lawyer Baljit Singh for the post by garnering 220 votes.
A total 328 delegates voted in the party state conference that started at 10am.
Former state chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan had decided not to contest for the post, leaving Chang Yeow, also known as the “younger Teng”, in a straight fight against Gerakan legal bureau chief Baljit.
Baljit, who garnered 106 votes, had contested for the post with aspirations to bring “changes and unity” to the party that had suffered its second defeat in the general election this year by not winning even a seat in Penang.
Gerakan had ruled Penang before it was wiped out during Election 2008 when the state’s administration to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact.
The state liaison committee elected under Chang Yeow’s leadership today are former state Wanita chief Datuk Ng Siew Lai (208 votes), Teh Kheng Siong (156 votes), Tan Kah Leong (187 votes), Lee Boon Ten(200 votes), M.Puvaniten (205 votes) and Dr Thor Teong Ghee (148 votes).
The national delegates elected are Chan Kim Beng (279 votes), Tan Chuan Koon (235 votes), Ooi Ah Bee (25 votes), Tan Chee Heong (260 votes) and A.R.Velu (240 votes).
During the conference, five resolutions on housing, hill clearance and environment, education, state local plan and crime were passed without debate.
Earlier, in his opening address, Gerakan acting president Datuk Chang Ko Youn took a swipe at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, labelling him as the “Tokong” of Penang.
“Since 2008, Penang has a ‘Tokong’. If we say the Pope is the most powerful, the ‘Tokong’ here is even more so because nobody here can go against him,” he said.
He also accused the DAP secretary-general of prioritising only the developers, claiming this was why the latter was popular amongst the developers in Penang.
Chang then moved on to accused DAP of winning power for the sake of “destroying Barisan Nasional (BN)”.
“They only want to destroy BN, not that they want to fight for the welfare of the people of Penang or for the economy,” he said.
He continued attacking the Bagan MP by stating that nobody dares to go up against Lim or say anything too controversial or risked being sued.
Chang ended his speech by asking he delegates to vote wisely for a new line-up of leaders to lead the party in Penang.
Later in his speech, Chang Yeow said there are no winners or losers in the party state elections.
“Gerakan is the winner as we can see the unity of party members in this state party elections,” he said.
Now, he said the party has a lot to do especially in building a stronger team to fight the opponents outside the party.
“This state party elections was held professionally and this is How it should be done to ensure party unity,” he said.
