KEPALA BATAS, June 27 (Bernama) -- There have been precedents of the Gerakan president holding state political posts instead of federal posts, Gerakan Deputy President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Monday.

He said Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu was Penang chief minister when he was the party president from 1971 to 1980 and current party president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik was a state executive councillor when he took over as party chief from Chong Eu in 1980.

"Only in 1986, he (Keng Yaik) became a federal minister. So the answer is yes and no. There were precedents but I did not say it doesn't make a difference," he told reporters when asked whether the Gerakan national leader could remain in a state and hold a state post.

Koh, who is Penang chief minister, was commenting on an announcement by Keng Yaik that he wanted to step down as Gerakan president next year after having led the party for the past 26 years.

Keng Yaik, who was returned unopposed as the party's Beruas division chief yesterday at the division's annual general meeting, had said he wanted to hand over the party's leadership to Koh.

However, the party's constitution has to be amended before the handover can take place. Gerakan's constitution calls for elections to be held within 30 days of a position falling vacant.

The amendment will allow a successor to be acting party chief or acting division head until the next party elections if the incumbent has served more than half his elected term.

Keng Yaik, who is also Energy, Water and Communications Minister, was re-elected Gerakan president for a three-year term last August.

Koh said that according to the party's history, Chong Eu held two posts in 1969, as a member of parliament and as a state assemblyman.

"At that time, it was under different circumstances. I don't know the arrangement, so please don't speculate. Let me figure it out with the party ... we will discuss within the party but we will not immediately make the decision," he told reporters after officiating the state-level Anti-Drugs Day celebration at the Dewan Milenium, here.