KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time since its inception in 1984, the Gerakan Youth will see contest for its top post.

The Gerakan Youth chief’s post will witness a three-corner fight, with party deputy Youth chief Lim Si Pin taking on Kedah Youth chief Tan Keng Liang and Negeri Sembilan Youth chief Chai Tek Loong.

Over the last 24 years, the party Youth chief’s post had always been won uncontested, with behind-the-scene negotiations to ensure that favoured candidate won without a vote being cast.

Although the nominations for the Youth wing yesterday — which took place at the party’s headquarters at Menara PGRM — saw only a handful of supporters of the respective candidates, the tussle for the post is expected to be intense.

The Youth chief’s post is vacant after its incumbent, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, exceeded the age limit of 45 to hold the position.

The Youth wing’s elections next Saturday will also see an unprecedented number of candidates vying for the various top posts in the last 20 years.

The deputy Youth chief’s post will be a straight fight between its vice-chairman, Paul Yong Yoon Kong, and Penang Youth chief Oh Yong Keong.

Five candidates will vie for the three vice-chairman’s posts while 28 will contest the 18 youth central committee seats.

Speaking to reporters later, Lim, the son of former Gerakan president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, said he was committed to ensuring that the Gerakan youth would be the first youth organisation in the country to attain the ISO 9001 certification.

He also promised to introduce the key performance index (KPI) for the wing to keep track on Gerakan youth’s effectiveness should he win.

Lim, who claimed to have backing from the youth wings of eight states, was also confident that with his 10 years experience in the wing, he would be able to take the Gerakan Youth to greater heights.

“I am ready to work with other youth leaders as a team. I have seen them rise over the years and I understand their aspirations for the party and the people,” he said, after unveiling his manifesto, themed “Leadership, Sincerity, Rejuvenation: Creating A New Identity For Gerakan Youth”.

Meanwhile, Chai said his decision to contest the Youth top post was to “restrengthen and reform” the wing after Gerakan’s dismal performance in the March 8 general election.

However, he claimed that his intention to contest had not gone down well with certain national leaders in the party, with some calling him on the telephone to coax him to “strike a compromise”.

“I’ve received calls (after announcing his intention contest the post two weeks ago), some are encouraging but there were also some who called and wanted to negotiate.

“They wanted me to compromise but I did not meet them (the callers),” he said, adding that the “persuaders” said they wanted to avoid a split in the youth wing.

— Bernama