KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Two for the price of one.

This is likely to be the main selling point for Gerakan Youth deputy chief Lim Si Pin, who is contesting for the Batu parliamentary seat when he hits the campaign trail after filing his nomination papers Saturday.

Si Pin, a financial consultant, is the only son of Gerakan adviser and Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

A vote for the son is seen as paying tribute to the veteran leader who helmed Gerakan for 26 years. Dr Lim passed the baton to deputy president and Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in April last year.

“Yes, I will be there to support my son during nomination tomorrow," Dr Lim said when asked today if he would be accompanying Si Pin to the nomination centre tomorrow.

Apart from Dr Lim, his wife Datin Seri Wong Yoon Chuan and their two other daughters are also likely to be present during the nomination process at Chung Hwa Independent Secondary School at Jalan Ipoh here to lend moral support.

Si Pin, who is making his election debut, is among the new faces put up by the party to contest in the March 8 election. He is likely to face Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Tian Chua. For Si Pin, he is definitely happy that his father will be there during the nomination process, and aims to deliver the seat to the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Whatever it is, the most important thing is that I have to work hard and with the support from all the component parties, I will able to defend this seat for the BN," he added.

In the last election, the seat was won by Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ng Lip Yong, who defeated PKR's Tian Chua.

An aide of Dr Lim said the 68-year-old politician planned to spend some time on the campaign trail with Si Pin and at the same time, try to help his successor for the Beruas parliamentary seat, which will be contested by Gerakan vice-president Datuk Chang Ko Youn.

Dr Lim, who has served the Beruas parliamentary constituency for two decades, made known his intention to retire two years ago -- first as party president and later as minister. Last week, he bade farewell to his cabinet colleagues at the final cabinet meeting before Parliament was dissolved to pave way for the election.

The witty, straight-talking and sometimes "controversial" minister had served the cabinet since 1972 when he was appointed the Minister of Special Functions in charge of New Villages and Emergency Work.