Gerakan will propose three main amendments to the party constitution at the national delegates' conference from Sept 1-2, said secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye.

He said the proposed changes are aimed at greater uniformity in procedures involving party elections and annual general meetings.

One amendment proposes to allow a branch vice-chairperson to become acting chairperson without a fresh election being held.

"The vice-chairperson must have served the party for at least 18 months in order for him or her to become the acting chairperson without contesting," he told reporters at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Under the current provision in the constitution, an election must be held to fill the chairperson's post when it falls vacant.

The second amendment is targeted at synchronising state and national elections, including those at branch and division levels.

"Currently, the branch and division elections are conducted every two years, while the state and national elections are held every three years. We are going to synchronise all these into a three-year timeframe by the 2011 elections," he explained.

Under the third amendment, the state chairperson will no longer automatically become a central committee member but will have to contest for a seat.

"We are amending this based on the feedback from the ground. Members say it is better to elect the state chairpersons and central committee members separately (to enable wider interaction between these leaders)," he added.