Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has accepted party advisor Lim Keng Yaik's resignation letter after the two met this afternoon to thrash out matters over the latest party imbroglio.

gerakan press conference koh tsu koon 2 "After deliberation, I decided to accept Lim Keng Yaik’s resignation as the advisor of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM).

"We met this afternoon to discuss many matters about the party and the country," said Koh in a terse three-paragraph statement sent this evening.

However, Lim, who is also Koh's mentor and predecessor as party president, will be given another role in the party - that of chairperson of the Gerakan Life Members Council.

""He has graciously accepted," said Koh ( above ).

"Therefore, I urge all Gerakan leaders and members at all levels to close rank in the satu hati (one heart) spirit and move forward together, to focus on serving the nation, the people and the party," he added.

The sudden about turn comes just 24 hours after the central working committee decided unanimously last night to reject the resignation letter.

The Gerakan Life Members Council is a prestigious body within the BN component party, whose 200 members are admitted after a stringent vetting process.

lim keng yaik interview 280408 09 Its power is indicated in the fact that aspiring election candidates need its approval even the party's top leadership decides who to field.

However, Lim ( right ) appeared to foresee his 'fate' when, in an interview with The Star , he said it would not be a surprise if he were given the position.

The tussle between the two first hit the headlines when Lim - whom Koh had frequently regarded as a 'father figure' - announced on Monday his resignation as party advisor.

Lim cited his unhappiness over Koh's handling of the leadership crisis in the party's committee in Penang, a bastion state for Gerakan.

Several members in the state have planned an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to oust state chief Teng Hock Nan, who is known to have the backing of Koh.

However, Koh has displayed nonchalance over the affair, even choosing to attend MCA's AGM instead of the Penang Gerakan EGM on Oct 10.

That appeared to have broken the camel's back for Lim, who was the party president for 27 years before appointing Koh to succeed him in 2007.

Saying that he was in pain over the issue, Lim called Koh an "ostrich" for seeking to avoid, rather than face up to, the unpleasant situation the party was caught in.

Koh later said that it was simply a misunderstanding between him and Lim. This, however, only further raised Lim's ire .