KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Gerakan has no problem in finding a candidate to take over as Penang chief minister should Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon contest a parliamentary seat in the next general election, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said Monday.

"Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has picked his successor (Dr Koh as party president). There is also a suitable candidate to succeed Dr Koh (as chief minister of Penang) should Dr Koh move to the federal level," he told Bernama.

Chia was asked to comment on the assumption that if Dr Lim were to withdraw from contesting the next general election whether Dr Koh would take over his seat and who would take over from Dr Koh as Penang chief minister.

Chia said the media was often speculating on the suitable candidates to succeed Dr Koh and this indirectly showed that the Gerakan had many qualified and trained candidates.

The speculative reports have cited Chia himself as one of the candidates, with the others being Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Penang state executive councillors Teng Chang Yeow and Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon and Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Ministry Datuk Lee Kah Choon.

Dr Koh is currently acting Gerakan president, and will remain so until the next party elections.

Chia said Gerakan members were prepared to accept the decision of the party leadership in the selection of leaders, as had been the practice.

"Gerakan practises the culture of supporting the decision of the leaders. We support and pick capable candidates to hold posts in the party and Cabinet, and have trained many potential candidates in the event vacancies arise," he said.

Chia said Dr Lim decided to step down not because he no longer had the capability to lead but because he wanted to give the younger generation the opportunity to lead the party.

"This is a healthy political culture and leadership by example, and candidates at the grassroots also do not compete amongst one another for posts," he said.