KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Gerakan Secretary-General Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye Tuesday dismissed talks that he is challenging Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for the presidency in the party election in October.

The 55-year-old former Deputy Information Minister, however, said he intended to relinquish the secretary-general's post he had held for three terms since August 1999, after the party election.

"We should give way to young blood with new ideas. So, I think it is an appropriate time to relinquish, or rather not to be re-appointed as secretary-general. It is the right time to make a final decision... it has been long enough," Chia said when met by Bernama here Tuesday.

Pledging his support to Koh, who is Gerakan acting president, whom he had served as special assistant between 1990 and 1995 when the latter was Chief Minister of Penang, Chia said Koh should be given a chance to lead the party.

"Give him a chance to be endorsed, give him a chance (to be elected)," said Chia.

When asked whether he would be contesting for other party positions now that he has announced his wish not to seek re-appointment as secretary-general and that he was not eyeing for the top post, Chia replied: "At this point of time, I have not received enough feedback."