Candidates resorting to personal attacks on others in the run-up to Gerakan's party elections on Saturday are destroying the image of the party, its secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye said today.

Chia said candidates who engaged in these character attacks did so because they had run out of issues to capitalise on.

"I am sad about this," Chia to a press conference at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The top draw for the party elections this weekend is the battle for the presidency between incumbent Lim Keng Yaik who will try to stave off his deputy president of 16 years, Kerk Choo Ting.

Observers have described the various claims and counter-claims during the ongoing campaign between the two camps as 'mud-slinging.'

Chia, however, said that Lim and Kerk were not responsible for any personal attacks and had merely clarified issues through the media which did not affect the party's image.

He added Gerakan had always practiced a transparent administration with the central committee members being informed on all issues involving the party.

Controversial suggestion

"It is okay if the issues raised by all the candidates are constructive to the party, but if they are not important and are only personal attacks, then they are wasting people's time and also destroying the party's image," said Chia.

Commenting on the statement made by Kerk that Lim would not retire as claimed in 2007, Chia replied that, '... if some leaders do not believe another leader, then they should ask themselves first whether they will retire as scheduled'.

On the suggestion by Kerk to limit the party's presidential tenure to three terms, Chia said this was 'a controversial suggestion' and should be discussed by the new central committee before being forwarded to the party's general assembly.