Incumbent Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting, who was challenged by Kuala Sepetang assembly representative and party central committee member Siew Kok Kan, has been returned as the party's number two.

Kerk received 892 votes or 70.8 percent of the total votes cast, thus scoring a victory over Siew who garnered 368 votes or 29.21 percent. There were eight spoilt votes.

Kerk's victory came as a relief as the veteran politician was said to be rather uncertain of his chances and had publicly asked delegates to vote for him while officiating the Youth and Wanita conferences yesterday.

The official results were announced this evening at the Gerakan dinner in Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur.

But earlier this afternoon, less than an hour after the polling ended, Kerk called for a press conference and thanked the central committee headed by party president Dr Lim Keng Yaik and the delegates for his victory.

"With their support, I was confident that I could win. It was just a matter of the majority. The votes [I received] reflected the work I have done for the party," he said.

Asked how he felt about his victory, Kerk who has been Gerakan deputy president for 14 years said "I am not too excited about it".

"We have been a team and this has been going on since the 1980s. The credit must go to team work," he said.

Concern about contest

Gerakan members and observers were concerned about the contest between Kerk and Siew as it was seen as a test of the former's strength and support at grassroots level.

Prior to the fight, Lim had openly appealed to party members to retain the party's top seven, including Kerk for another term. However, Siew defied the president's wish and went ahead to challenge Kerk.

Many believed that Siew was unhappy that he was not re-appointed by Kerk, who is also Gerakan Perak chairperson, as the vice-chairperson for the state.

However, Siew had maintained that his challenge had nothing to do with personal feuds. He said his challenge was to demonstrate to the party's leadership that many members did not want Kerk, the No 2 in the party, to succeed Lim.

Siew had also promised that he will step down immediately even if he won so that the central committee could choose a new deputy president.

When contacted, Siew said the votes he obtained were not reflective of the actual ground sentiment.

Accept the result

He said he learnt that the party leaders had campaigned vigorously for Kerk, especially after Wanita chief Kee Paik was defeated by her deputy for 17 years Rhina Bhar last night.

"The leaders were afraid that the mood for change may grow stronger and that's why they went to call on delegates at their hotel. If it was one on one, I'm sure my votes would have been higher.

"I accept the result but I also hope the party's leadership will reflect on the issues that I have brought up," he said.

Out of the 1,790 delegates who are expected to attend the Gerakan's 31st National Delegates Conference in Kuala Lumpur today, about 71.7 percent or 1,283 delegates turned up.

Of that figure, 1,268 delegates cast their ballots at 1.45pm. Polling closed at 3.00pm.

Party president Lim and his three vice-presidents Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Dr S Vijayaratnam, and Dr Tan Kee Kwong, were returned unopposed during nominations last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the party also announced this evening the list of 18 new central committee members. Twenty candidates contested for the posts. The two who lost were Chan Meng Kee and Husain Bahaudin.

The 18 elected were Lee Kah Choon, Chia Kwang Chye, Khoo Soo Chai, Lim Keng Guan, Chua Chong An, Dr Toh Kin Woon, Ng Lip Yong, Woo Siak Chee, Chang Ko Youn, Yong Dai Ying, Lum Weng Keong, Chua Peng Song, Ng Chiang Chin, Teo Kok Chee, Fong Chok Gin, Jimmy Chok Kon Phin, Yap Kea Ping, and Dr Teng Hock Nan.