KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam said Tuesday that former Gerakan Deputy President Datuk Seri Kerk Choo Ting should not be recommended to be dropped from his government position following his defeat in the party election last month.

"I think there should not be any major changes in the government position he is in now just because he has lost in the election," he said.

Kerk is currently the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Deputy Minister.

Met by reporters on the sidelines of the Youth Leadership-The Challenge of Globalisation Conference organised by the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre here, Dr Vijayaratnam said that not all Gerakan leaders were holding government posts despite holding high positions in the party.

He said as an example, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, when he became the party president did not hold any ministerial position.

Dr Vijayaratnam was asked if the party's decision making body, the Central Committee (CC) would recommend Kerk to be dropped as deputy minister following his defeat for the top post in the party election on Aug 28.

"This is my personal opinion. However, the final decision is still up to the CC," he said.

The party is expected to hold their first CC meeting after the party election next month. However no date has been fixed for the meeting.

In the party election, marred by personal attacks and mudslinging campaigns, Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, defeated his deputy for 16 years, Kerk by 355 votes. Dr Lim polled 983 votes while Kerk managed to obtain 628 votes.