We did not boycott – LDP

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Liew says Salleh’s claim not true and party leaders went unnoticed at open house

KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk VK Liew has again stressed that party leaders and members were present at the state government’s Hari Raya open house which was hosted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the Muslim Cabinet ministers.

The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was in fact disheartened that State Assembly Speaker Datuk Salleh Said had made such unnecessary disparaging remarks against LDP.

Liew was of the opinion that Salleh had made an incorrect factual statement by saying LDP leaders were absent when its youth chief, divisional chairmen and members were there but they went unnoticed in the crowd of thousands.

According to Liew further, unlike in previous years, the state government’s open house this year was held on the second day of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations and not on the first day.

“It is the norm for me and LDP elected representatives to return to our constituencies after the first day of Raya to celebrate with our constituents and programs have been fixed in advance.

“As a matter of fact and as confirmed by Salleh himself, we already met at the Istana together with the TYT Tun Juhar Mahiruddin on the first day where Raya greetings were exchanged between me, my Supreme Council members and the Cabinet members of the Sabah state government.

“The allegation that we boycotted the Chief Minister and State Cabinet Minister’s open house on the second day is not true and a myth. Such allegation coming out from the mouth of the State Speaker is most incorrect and immature,” he said.

Liew said this when asked to comment on the statement of Salleh, who is also Sabah Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman, on the absence of LDP senior leaders at the state government’s Hari Raya open house.

The State Assembly Speaker who hosted a similar celebration in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidifitri on Monday, told reporters there that he was puzzled as to why none of the senior LDP leaders attended the recent Hari Raya open house hosted by the Chief Minister and the State Cabinet at the Likas Sports Complex.

Salleh said he found it strange that they managed to attend the open houses at the state palace and that of Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Pantai Manis assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail which were much further away.

“Were they really too busy with other commitments or were they boycotting the event?

“If indeed it was a boycott, then it is sad because it did not show respect to the Chief Minister and State Cabinet. And there was no spirit of the Barisan Nasional family or 1Malaysia concept,” he said.

On the first day of Hari Raya, LDP president Datuk VK Liew attended the state palace open house but neither he nor other senior party leaders were seen at the state’s open house the next day, he said.

He said on the third day, Liew and other leaders were present at Mohd Shafie’s open house in Semporna and on the fourth day at Rahim’s function in Papar.

Liew explained that both Shafie’s and Rahim’s open house events were held on the third and fourth day of Raya and not on the same day as that of the state government as Salleh seemed to allege.

“There were many state leaders who were not able to attend the Prime Minister’s open house in Putrajaya on the first day of Raya. Does that mean they are also boycotting the federal government’s open house in Kuala Lumpur?” he asked.

“We are in the season of Raya that lasts for a month and we will make amends. I don’t intend to dwell on the issue unnecessary. In the spirit of Hari Raya, I wish to again ask for ‘Maaf Zahir Batin’ from those offended by my default if any, in the matter which is not intended at all,” Liew said.

Meanwhile, LDP secretary general Datuk Teo Chee Kang when asked to comment on the same issue, said: “In politics, we should not be oversensitive otherwise a non-issue can become an issue.”