SITIAWAN: Gerakan will have a new president by end of March next year. Having led the Barisan Nasional component party for the past 26 years, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said he is ready to hand over the baton to his deputy Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon.

“I will call for an Extraordinary General Meeting and officially hand over the presidency to my number two. I think it's time to leave after 26 years as party president," he told reporters after opening the Beruas Gerakan division's annual delegates conference here today.

Declining to give a specific date he said it will be done by end of the first quarter next year (March 30).

“The EGM will likely be held after the Chinese New Year celebrations,” he said. Next year, Chinese New Year falls on Feb 18.

He said part of ensuring the smooth transition of leadership, included making some amendments to the party's constitution during its annual general meeting on Sept 2.

"In Gerakan, you cannot hand over the top post be it at national, state, division or even branch levels as elections must be held within 30 days after a position becomes vacant," he said.

The amendments, he explained, would allow a successor to be acting party chief or acting division head until the party elections are held next if the incumbent had served more than half his elected term.

The party constitution will also be amended to streamline the period in between elections for branch, division, state and national levels. Currently elections for divisions and branches are once in two years while those for state and national - once in three years.

Meanwhile, party sources said since Dr Lim will have passed the half-way mark of his three year term in March, it is likely the EGM will held in that month.

In line with the forthcoming amendments, it would allow Dr Koh to become acting president until the next party elections.

Dr Lim, who is also Energy, Water and Communications Minister, retained his post as party president after defeating his then deputy Datuk Seri Kerk Choo Ting in August last year.

Dr Lim polled 983 votes to Kerk’s 628 to retain his presidency.