Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the choice of central delegates on Saturday will determine whether the transition in leadership takes place in two years or nine.

He said he would pass the leadership to incoming deputy president Dr Koh Tsu Koon if re-elected during the party polls this weekend.

However, if delegates elect his deputy and challenger Kerk Choo Ting as president, then Koh will have to wait nine years to take over the presidency.

"Kerk has said that, if elected, he will hold the presidency for three terms which is nine years - so, Koh will have to wait for nine years," said Lim during a press conference today in Putrajaya.

Koh has won the deputy presidency unopposed, following Kerk's decision to contest the presidency.

Lim claimed that Kerk had been given the chance over the last five years to work his way to the presidency, but that he has not made use of it by turning in a good performance.

"He did not cherish the chance, he cannot blame me," said Lim, who has been president for 25 years.

He also criticised Kerk for not showing team spirit and said party leaders have lost confidence in him.

Lim, who is energy, water and communications minister, also said he would not step down from his ministerial post even after passing the party's leadership to Koh.

"This is an important task, I will continue to serve as minister until I am no longer needed by the premier," said Lim

Whither the votes?

About 1,800 central delegates are eligible to vote. One prediction is that Lim will secure 1,100 votes.

A source said Kerk's votes could come from Johor (60 percent), Selangor (40 percent), Kedah (more than 50 percent), Negri Sembilan and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

Only one division in Negri Sembilan is known to support Lim, while Federal Territory liaison committee chairperson Dr Tan Kee Kwong is known to be a staunch supporter of Kerk.

Lim, meanwhile, has strong influence over Perak, Penang and Kelantan. As Perak and Penang have the largest number of central delegates, this gives Lim the upper hand.

Despite the advantages enjoyed by the incumbent, Kerk too has his strengths based on four factors, according to the source.

Delegates who are dissatisfied with Lim will cast their votes for Kerk, while there will be sympathy votes from those who object to Lim's demand that all state liaison committee members should openly declare their choice for the top two posts.

They see the move as being "too much", considering that Kerk has been deputy president for 16 years.

Another factor is that some delegates would like to see Lim becoming a lame duck through a narrow victory, as this would enable Koh to hold greater authority.

Some delegates also view the Chinese-educated duo of Kerk and Koh as perfect partners for a new leadership, compared to Lim who has an English education background.

Kerk and Koh joined Gerakan in 1982 during a Dong Jiao Zong campaign to unite Chinese Malaysian organisations including political parties and Chinese associations, in order to demand mother tongue education rights.

Kerk was the legal advisor of Dong Zong and Koh a lecturer in Universiti Sains Malaysia at the time.