Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik who surprised party members last year when he said he would step down and pave the way for the deputy president to helm the party, may have changed his mind.
Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye, when contacted, said the partys elections scheduled for September will be a quiet one and Lim is most likely to stay as president.
There is no reason for him to step down. We feel there is a lot more he can do for the party, Chia told malaysiakini .
Lim is currently busy briefing division leaders nationwide on the partys elections.
Elections for the 1,300 Gerakan branches throughout the country will begin in March, and for the 100 divisions, in May. State-level elections are set for July or August before the national delegates meet in September.
Chia said since word got out that Lim was thinking about retiring from the partys presidency, central executive committee members had managed to convince Lim to do otherwise.
Power struggle
Gerakan party leaders fear a power struggle would ensue should Lim step down.
Strong contenders for the post include Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is the party vice-president, and Kerk Choo Ting, who is party deputy leader and deputy minister for international trade and industries.
Although Lim had set his eyes on Kerk as his heir, Koh, who has long-standing ties with the Chinese Malaysian community, is the preferred choice of the party grassroots. Koh was an active member in the movement for Chinese education, Dong Jiao Zong.
Although party members do not expect a storm at the party polls this year, this remains to be seen as one of its vice-president posts is up for grabs.
The position was left vacant when former veep Dr Goh Cheng Teik left the party to concentrate on business after the 1999 general elections.
Jumped ship
Gohs move was also apparently motivated by the resignations of two Gerakan state assembly representatives then Lim Chien Aun (Bayan Lepas) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat) who jumped ship to join MCA.
The other five vice-presidents are Dr S Vijayaratnam who, like Koh, was elected to the post, while youth chairperson Teng Chang Yeow, Wanita chairperson Kee Phaik Cheen, Land and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong and Dr Kang Ching Seng were appointed.
According to a party insider, Tan and Kang are vying for the post of vice-president.
The source said Tan and Kang may work out some sort of compromise. Kang, who is a former Penang state executive councillor, may have to back down as he is apparently in Penang chief Kohs not-so-good books.
According to some quarters, Koh felt threatened by Kangs influence with the grassroots.
