A Gerakan division today urged long-time party president Dr Lim Keng Yaik to step down and make way for vice-president Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

"Since most of the members and the grassroots want Koh to succeed Lim, then it is only appropriate for him to step aside in the party election next month,"Ledang division chairperson Tai Mong was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Lim, who has been leading the party since 1980, has said that he would step down in 2008 after settling the succession issue and overseeing the completion of two party projects - Menara PGRM 2 and Universiti Wawasan.

Tai said the division wanted Kerk Choo Ting to be retained as deputy president although some members initially wanted Koh to contest the number two post to position himself for the party succession.

"It's an open secret that Koh ( right ) is the preferred candidate (to succeed Lim). That's why they wanted him to go for number two in order to take over the presidency in the future.

"So if that is the case, just let Koh be the president in this party election (next month) and retain Kerk ( left ) as deputy president," he added.

Tai was asked about his comment in the Oriental Daily Chinese language newspaper today that a meeting of the division and members of the Muar, Bakri and Tangkak divisions yesterday had supported Koh to take over the party presidency.

'Nothing new'

However, Keng Yaik, who is also energy, water and communications minister, dismissed the call as 'nothing new'.

"I know they (Ledang division) have been against me for the past 23 years. It's nothing new," he added.

The veteran politician said party members had the right to voice their opinion and state their choice.

"I have no problems about that," he added.

On Wednesday, in an interview with the Chinese press, Lim suggested a 'numbers formula' to elect the party's top leadership.

He said the state committees should make known their stand by stating whom they wanted as party leaders according to his '123, 213 and 321' formula with him as "1" and Kerk and Koh as '2' and '3' respectively.

Lim said he was prepared to retire if the majority of the 1,800 Gerakan delegates to the party assembly chose the '321' variation.

Yesterday, Gerakan Penang liaison committee vice-chairperson Dr Toh Kin Woon ( right ) rejected the formula.

"I disagree with the formula. The delegates should be allowed to decide in the election," he told malaysiakini .

Citing them as his personal views, he said state liaison committees should not be asked to show their support to certain leaders.

"They should not be asked one way or another about their choice and indicate that another side should not contest. The delegates have the right to choose," he added