'It's too late!' These were the words of Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting, who rejected the president's last ditch attempt to prevent a contest for the number two post.

Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik had invited his deputy for a meeting at his office in Putrajaya to seek a compromise.

"That was a one-to-one meeting and both of us voiced our opinion and tried to understand each other in the matter," said Lim when contacted by Bernama last night.

He described the 45-minute meeting as "friendly" and added that there would be no more private meetings between him and Kerk before the election on Aug 27.

Meanwhile, Kerk told Bernama today that the meeting was merely a session of "expressing and exchanging general views" and both he and Lim actually did not "talk much".

"This is the first time we have a discussion over the succession issue...it's a bit too late," he said.

Likely successor

Kerk, who is Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister, is expected to face Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan vice-president Dr Koh Tsu Koon for the number two post.

The contest is seen as a vote for the likely successor to Lim.

Lim had previously said he would use his influence to prevent a contest for the deputy presidency and would meet Kerk and Koh to ask them to compromise.

Asked whether the "advisor" formula was discussed during the meeting, Kerk said: "There is no such thing as party advisor."

Kerk and Koh have enjoyed a good and close relationship since their days in the Chinese education movement in the 1970s prior to them joining Gerakan.

Asked whether he would still defend the number two post, Kerk said he was still considering and asked everyone to "wait until the nomination day" on Saturday.

His reluctance to announce his plans for the election has sparked speculation that Kerk might be preparing to challenge Lim for the party presidency.