Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting will go for broke and challenge party leader Dr Lim Keng Yaik in next week's party polls much to the chagrin of the latter.

Lim, ( photo, middle ) who was a guest at the MCA annual general meeting this morning, rushed over to the Gerakan headquarters for a press conference on hearing news of the challenge.

"I regret and am disappointed that it has come to this. But if it has be, then it has to be. But I hope that he (Kerk) is not contesting out of anger and frustration," said Lim.

Kerk ( photo ) arrived with his supporters half-an-hour before the nomination period closed at the party headquarters in Cheras this morning to register his intention to contest the presidency.

Lim had submitted his nomination forms through his agents along with vice-president Dr Koh Tsu Khoon's shortly after 10am.

Lim is seeking to defend his post as president while Koh, who is Penang chief minister and party vice-president, is vying for the number two slot.

When the half hour period for objections closed at 12.30pm, Koh was declared the party's new deputy president as there was no other candidates.

Lim, however, said the contest showed that democracy was alive in the party as there was opportunity for opponents to challenge incumbents.

Except for Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur, 11 out of 12 Gerakan state liaison committees nominated Lim as president.

Koh gained 10 nominations from the state liaison committees except for Federal Territory (Kuala Lumpur) and Negeri Sembilan.

National advisor offer

Speaking to reporters, Lim said to avoid a contest for his post, he and Koh had personally persuaded Kerk to be national advisor of the party but the offer was rejected.

Asked why he had changed his mind with regards to his heir-apparent, Lim said Kerk had drifted away over the years from team work.

"May be this is because of his attitude and personality. He lacks contribution although he says he has contributed a lot. He lacks a teamwork spirit," he said, adding it was the party's members who had chosen Koh as his successor.

"They (the grassroots) chose Koh, not me. But I agree. I think this is a wise choice [...] When I said it is the time for me to retire, the grassroots leadership unfortunately chose Koh Tsu Koon. I have to accept what the grassroots have decided.

"If people feel angry, disappointed, frustrated, let down, there is nothing I can do. This is the grassroots' decision," he said, adding that election this time is 'the election of successor'.

Lim reiterated he has to ensure a smooth transition of leadership before he steps down in 2007.

On the other hand, Koh claimed that during the negotiations with Kerk, the latter had instead persuaded him (Koh) to challenge Lim.

"I told him (Kerk) that I can't as we have to work as a team," he said. Koh also denied that he had pushed Kerk into a corner or had forced him to step down.

In the early 1980s, Kerk and Koh - who were then Chinese educationists - had joined Gerakan with a group of others with their reform-based manifesto themed 'Join BN, Rectify BN'.

Keng Yaik's 'failure'

Meanwhile, at his press conference later, Kerk denied that he was contesting out of spite.

"I have no frustration or anger. This is the aspiration of the grassroots. Personally, I'm not interested to contest."

He said he made a his final decision last night after discussions and consultations with party leaders and grassroots members.

He said based on the feedback, most of them did not a spilt between him and Koh and that they should work together as they are from similar backgrounds and support the same political causes.

"Most of the grassroots do not want me to retire or serve as only advisor of the party as my services, experience and leadership is still required by the party," he said.

He claimed that the members wanted him to take over the helm when Lim retires in 2007, and that he and Koh should work hand-in-hand to lead the party.

"Lim Keng Yaik's decision to not retire now but to stay on and prepare the party's leadership for the next general election is not a viable, fair and appropriate proposal for the party and the new leadership," he said.

"The problem lies in the No 1's failure to provide a smooth transition of the leadership of Gerakan and his long tenure in the party with his 'on and off again' decisions or 'non-decisions' to retire since 1995," he said.

While saying that the door for negotiations for him to withdraw was still open, Kerk said the chances were slim as voting is due to take place next Saturday.

He also denied that he had rejected the offer of party national advisor adding the suggestion could not be implemented as it was against the party's constitution.

Not a 'personal fight'

Kerk is known to be peeved by Lim's open support for Koh and there were speculations over the past few months that there could be a contest form Koh for the deputy president's post.

A last-minute meeting with Lim two days ago failed to persuade Kerk to gracefully step down and avoid a contest.

At the press conference, Kerk denied that this was a personal fight between him and Lim.

"Between Lim Keng Yaik and myself, we respect each other. We have never quarreled. We have never even shouted at each other. All discussions were done in the very rational manner," he stressed.

On his chances, Kerk said he will let the delegates decide whether he is capable of helming the party.