Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) will put procedures into place to pave the way for smooth transition of power when its president Dr Lim Keng Yaik steps down early next year.

Secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye said amendments would be made to the party constitution at the national delegates' conference scheduled for Sept 2.

"We want to fine-tune the constitution to allow for the deputy to serve as acting president," he said, when contacted today.

There is no provision currently for anyone to fill seats that fall vacant at any level, and elections have to be called within 30 days.

Press reports today quoted Lim as saying that he would call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) - anticipated by March 30 - and officially hand over the reins to his deputy Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

"The EGM will likely be held after the Chinese New Year (which falls on Feb 18) next year," the New Straits Times quoted Lim as saying, after opening the Beruas Gerakan division's annual delegates' conference on Sunday.

The announcement did not generate any surprise among party members, as Lim had already announced that his current three-year term would be the last, after retaining his post during the Gerakan elections last August.

"This has been a long-term succession plan. It was the president's plan to have a smooth succession," said Chia.

Asked why Lim, who has been president for 26 years, had chosen his exit date now, Chia said this was all about timing.

"He wants to have served more than 18 months (by the time) he retires, in order for the deputy to take over (under the proposed amendments). So he is expressing his wish to resign now."

Chia denied the existence of any tension within the party: "We went through the elections last year and we selected our deputy. There is no real problem in the party," Chia added. .

The Star quoted Lim as saying it was his responsibility to step down, now that he has settled problems relating to choice of the deputy.