There are hardly any inspirational choices among the candidates for the upcoming Gerakan election.

Incumbent president Lim Keng Yaik's criticism against challenger Kerk Choo Ting is centred on the latter's political style but the fact of the matter is that it is factional politicking. As Kerk has pointed out, if he get too close to Lim's supporters, Lim will immediately summon them for a warning.

Taking into account the factional differences which have existed for some time already, it is a rather idle and subjective judgement to say that Kerk is 'ineffective'. Does Lim really want his rival to be more 'effective'?

As for Lim promoting himself as a 'grassroots man', what a joke. He has had hardly been popular in handling problems of the grassroots communities, for example, fisher folk, farmers and workers. His dealing with the grassroots community can be best remembered by the occasion when he was forced by Indian community to apologise for disparaging the Indian rubber tappers during a debate on minimum wages for plantation workers.

Some journalists are easily fooled by Lim's propensity to swear vulgarities and slap members of the public on the shoulder as 'proof' of his grassroots credentials. Surely they had been taken in by his pretensions than by any real substance.

It is strange why Lim can't debate with Kerk over how to improve the achievement of Gerakan's guiding ideology on 'Anak Malaysia', multiculturalism and liberalism. Surely these are the substantive issues which he should impress upon the delegates.

Similarly, Kerk's criticisms against Lim are rather limited to the organisational and introspective aspects, for example, overstaying by Lim, dictatorial style and nepotism. These are fair issues to raise but not enough to inspire the party delegates or the public on what he can offer.

He could score high on his democratic credentials if he had spoken out against the ISA, for instance. In the same vein, the educational and economic focus of his manifesto was merely mentioned in passing without sufficient elaboration to create an inspirational attraction.

Many people also noted Kerk's possible appeal to Chinese-educated Gerakan members which are said to comprise over half the party. However, the appeal is limited because even though Kerk and Koh Tsu Koon were from the Dong Jiao Zong before, his dealings with the high profile Chinese educational lobby are over following some disagreements.

So his friends and foes are both mistaken over Kerk's 'Chinese educationist' tag. Actually, even Koh is also suffering similar disrespect by the DJZ and Chinese educationists chiefly due to his lack of achievements in the Chinese education field.

Taken altogether, the Gerakan election campaign thus far is rather personal and factional. The criticisms and self-promotions are often inaccurate and questionable. Why not - as a party of intellectuals - the candidates openly debate on innovative and creative solutions for Malaysia's numerous socio-political challenges?

This may give candidates with better ideas a chance of leading the party rather than fake grassroots men or seasonal democrats.