Staunch supporters of former Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting have underlined their disappointment that he has been left out of the central committee (CC) list announced yesterday.

"Everyone should have a role to play and to contribute to the party," said Gerakan Kuala Lumpur chairperson Dr Tan Kee Kwong said when contacted today.

Referring to the acrimony between the factions aligned to Kerk and party president Dr Lim Keng Yaik respectively, he said everyone "should forget what happened" during campaigning and work as a team.

"Just as the president said earlier, the winners don't take all and losers don't lose all," he said, but declined to comment further.

Contacted today, Kerk ( left ) himself declined comment on the matter and hung up the phone abruptly.

He had failed in his bid to challenge the long-time president during party elections held in August.

The relationship between Lim and his one time heir-apparent Kerk had turned sour when Lim expressed open support for Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon as his successor.

Party to decide

Another of Kerk's supporters, who declined to be named, suggested that he should at least be appointed as one of the three vice-presidents and that he should be allowed to retain his post as the agriculture and agro-based industries deputy minister.

"This is not just about Kerk. Anyone who has contributed to the party should be given an opportunity to work (within it)," she stressed.

Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Lee Kah Choon, Lim's political secretary Gooi Hoe Hin and Penang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Yeow were appointed as CC members. Three more posts have yet to be filled.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye ( right ) was reappointed secretary-general, while Kelantan Gerakan chief Ng Chiang Chin was retained as treasurer-general.

News reports today quoted Lim as saying the central working committee would discuss the possibility of appointing Kerk to the CC and that a decision would be made over his deputy minister's post.

Only the prime minister has prerogative to appoint members in the cabinet. However, it is a tradition that the respective party leaders in the ruling coalition will recommend a list of candidates to the premier.