Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye has taken over all duties of Ketari state assemblyman Loke Koon Kum, a fellow party member, as the latter is suffering from jaw cancer.

Chia, who is Energy, Communication and Multimedia Ministry parliamentary secretary, said Lokes condition is stable but he was unable to attend the last state assembly sitting in Kuantan last year due to an operation.

Chia dismissed rumours that Ketari may see a by-election as Loke is expected to hand in his resignation soon. Chia added he is currently overseeing the constituency on Lokes behalf.

I have also taken over Lokes party posts - Gerakan Pahang state and division chairmanship - and his service centre for one year now already, Chia told malaysiakini.

On Tuesday, malaysiakini reported that the state seat located in Bentong may have a by-election as Loke was expected to vacate his seat.

Pahang Keadilan has already announced its interest in contesting Ketari which has traditionally been a DAP stronghold. Gerakan snatched the seat from DAP by a slim 231 votes in the last general elections.

Keadilan has also claimed that Gerakan has started house-to-house campaigning in Ketari further fueling speculation that Barisan Nasional was gearing up for a by-election to defend the tiny state seat.

Press reports today quoted Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob as saying that Loke had not handed in his resignation letter to Pahang state assembly speaker Wan Razali Wan Mahussin.

Keadilan overzealous

Chia dismissed Keadilans claims that Gerakan had started campaigning in Ketari, saying the opposition party was overzealous.

He said he had on Monday attended a handing-over-of-house-keys ceremony for fire victims in Perting and this must have been construed by Keadilan to be house-to-house campaigning.

Loke, in his fifties, has served as the Ketari representative for three terms. In the last general elections in 1999, he polled a total of 5,874 votes to beat DAPs Choong Siew Onn.

Ketari, which has an electorate of 16,434, is located in Bentong and includes the popular hill resort of Genting Highlands, known for its hotels and casino complex.

A Gerakan official said Loke has been suffering from jaw cancer since early last year. He was advised by the party leadership to step down from his post as Gerakan Pahang chairman.

However, it is yet uncertain if the ailing state assemblyman will step down as the Ketari elected representative.