The other Indian Malaysian faction within Gerakan - led by vice-president Dr. S. Vijayaratnam - has come out in support of the party leadership's candidate selection process, seen more as a move to placate a group of disgruntled members.

The group, led by Lembah Jaya division secretary A Rajaretnam, has threatened to quit the party en bloc if their demand for one state and parliamentary seat each is not met.

In a brief statement today, Vijayaratnam repeated his earlier explanation on how candidates are selected based on their ability to win and serve, with preference given to those who have been serving an area for some time.

He said it happened that most of the constituencies allocated by the Barisan Nasional to Gerakan are in Chinese-majority areas.

"The reality of Malaysian politics is that the ideal candidate for any constituency should be from the majority racial group there," he said.

There are about 60,000 non-Chinese members in Gerakan, with 20,000 in Selangor alone, hence the group's request for a parliamentary seat in that state.

Vijayaratnam's statement was jointly issued with Hulu Selangor division vice-chairperson A. Rama Rao, Gerakan Youth vice-president A. Kohilan Pillay and the party's Kuala Lumpur/Selangor vice-chairperson K. Sabaratnam.

'Big event'

Seremban-based Vijayaratnam, the only Indian Malaysian among the party's principal office-bearers, said it was pointless to place an Indian or a non-Chinese in a Chinese-majority area "... just for the sake of doing so."

"This is a non-racial party and there is no quota. We have absolutely no intention of deliberately sidelining Indian Malaysian members in the candidate selection process."

The disillusioned group, which has also asked for a state seat, has pledged to unseat Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik in Beruas come March 21 if their demand for a parliamentary seat in Selangor is not met.

Vijayaratnam advised them to be patient and to refrain from any action that might jeopardise BN's chances of winning in any constituency.

"Many potential Gerakan candidates, not only Indians, may be disappointed that they were not chosen, but they have all set aside their feelings and pledged to fully assist the BN everywhere."

On Wednesday, an angry Lim openly challenged the group to unseat him, warning them of immediate expulsion if they sabotage the party's election campaign.

But the group appears determined to pursue the matter to the end with Rajaretnam claiming that Gerakan may lose two-thirds, or about 40,000, of its Indian Malaysian members before the general election is over.

Contacted today, he said letters are already on the way to 175 branches nationwide asking their members to quit immediately.

"I myself may join the MIC or the PPP," he added.

"Lim should declare Gerakan as a Chinese party, change the constitution to make it a Chinese-based party so that the Indian Malaysian members can take their cue and leave."

"In fact, some members have already decided to join the MIC and PPP but so far there is nothing on paper. We're waiting for the right time to act because we want to make it a big event.

Rajaretnam said about 1,000 members were willing to quit immediately but he wanted to collect at least 40,000 members before acting.

'Cheap labour'

He also attacked Gerakan's claim that there is no Indian-majority seat by saying that the party was just trying to mislead its Indian Malaysian members.

"For example, the Buntong state seat in Perak is predominantly Indian, but an MCA candidate is defending it. Why can't Gerakan place a non-Chinese or an Indian Malaysian candidate in a Malay-majority or Chinese-majority area?" he asked.

About 40 Gerakan branches from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are expected to join Rajaretnam's group in Beruas next week to campaign against Lim.

"We will go house-to-house and ask people to think if they want to vote for Lim, given his past track record with Indian Malaysians," he explained.

Rajaretnam reminded Lim and other Gerakan leaders that their Indian Malaysian members "are not cheap labour to be conveniently summoned to stick posters and put up banners during elections."