Gerakan today hinted that it would want to hold on to its multi-racial composition even if a merger with its Chinese-based Barisan Nasional compatriot MCA becomes a reality.

According to its president Dr Lim KengYaik, the party has appointed two Indian Malaysian leaders - vice-president Dr S Vijaratnam and Wanita chief Rhina Bhar - to the merger committee.

"I am not saying anything. I have two Indian Malaysian members, a doctor and a lawyer, in my committee ... let them (MCA) say," he said when met after the National Economic Action Council dialogue function with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya.

"I know this is the question on everyone's mind - which party will dissolve or whether it would be Chinese-based or multi-racial but I'm not saying anything," he added.

MCA had expressed r eservation regarding Gerakan's multi-racial membership in the event of a merger. The latter's members however are predominantly Chinese Malaysians.

Its president Ong Ka Ting said it was too early to determine if the party would amend its constitution to accept non-Chinese members.

The two parties have been toying with the merger idea for some time and recently their presidents announced that the merger was a possibility in the long haul as a move to strengthen the ruling coalition.

In the past, the duo have been at loggerheads especially over the chief minister's post in Penang - held by Gerakan since1969 - and the distribution of electoral seats during by-elections.

Following an endorsement by the premier, MCA announced that it had set up a high-level committee headed by deputy president Chan Kong Choy to explore the proposal.

Media rapped

Meanwhile, Lim echoed his MCA counterpart's sentiment that the merger proposal was a 'long term' goal and stressed that Gerakan members supported the idea.

He also took a swipe at the media for being short-sighted, saying: "You can only see as far as your nose".

The outspoken veteran politician also denied that the proposed merger was an election strategy.

"It has nothing to do with the elections. It would be after the elections (that the merger would take place). It would take time. Don't rush us.

"Do you know why I have been avoiding you (the media)?... Because I want it (the merger) to succeed," he added.

The Chinese-based MCA, established in 1949, has about 1.02 million members while the 36-year-old Gerakan has approximately 250,000 members and was founded as a multi-racial party.