Incumbent Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting, who was challenged by Kuala Sepetang assembly representative and party central committee member Siew Kok Kan, has been returned as the party's number two.

Kerk received 892 votes or 70.8 percent of the total votes cast, thus scoring a victory over Siew who garnered 368 votes or 29.21 percent. There were eight spoilt votes.

Kerk's victory came as a relief as the veteran politician was said to be rather uncertain of his chances and had publicly asked delegates to vote for him while officiating the Youth and Wanita conferences yesterday.

The official results were announced this evening at the Gerakan dinner in Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur.

But earlier this afternoon, less than an hour after the polling ended, Kerk called for a press conference and thanked the central committee headed by party president Dr Lim Keng Yaik and the delegates for his victory.