DAP chief Lim Kit Siang said he would neither step down from his position nor decline nominations for leadership posts despite calls urging him to make way for younger leaders.

The veteran politician said that he would leave his political future in the hands of the delegates who will be attending the party's annual national congress on Aug 18 and 19.

"I will leave it to the democratic process as to whether I am still useful to the party and its political mission," he told a crowd of nearly 2,000 people at the party's 35th anniversary dinner in Klang yesterday.

Last Monday, Lim was asked by the party's youth chief Teng Chang Khim to decline nominations for all leadership posts at the national congress.

Teng had said that it was time for Lim to give up his post for he has been at the helm for 32 years.

"Lim has been at the top for almost a generation. I don't think the younger generation will place hope in him for another 30 years," Teng had said.

Several DAP leaders criticised Teng for trying to spilt the party while others backed him by saying that he was merely expressing a personal view.

Following this, the party's central committee decided to impose a gag order on the matter, and warned Teng not to repeat this again or he would face disciplinary action.

'Kind words'

At yesterday's dinner, Lim thanked Teng who was also present, for the latter's views and "kind words".

Lim told the crowd that "diversity of views were welcomed" but vehemently denied that the party was at the brink of another crisis.

"One question and concern uppermost in many minds is whether DAP is facing another crisis. The answer is a firm no," he said.

Lim said that since he became the party's national chairman, he has retreated to the background and explained that the party's secretary-general was DAP's chief executive officer.

"The secretary-general is vested with the greatest powers and responsibilities under the party constitution for all leadership, organisational and administrative matters," said Lim.

"I have not interfered and do not propose to interfere with the secretary general's responsibilities," he added.

Lim said after the last general elections he had only provided advice, back-up and support but otherwise was not involved in decision-making or implementation of the party's reform programme (designed to revive and improve the party).

"I am not even a member of the party reform committee which comprises other principal office bearers in the party headed by the secretary-general," he said.

"This is also why I had declined to give interviews to the media," added Lim.