KOTA KINABALU: The withdrawal of the suit by Datuk Chin Su Phin and Datuk Teo Chee Kang against Datuk Liew Vui Keong as party president and against Datuk Tan Sui Fu as chairman of the party’s Election Committee again reflected the duo’s inconsistencies and indecisiveness, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary general Loretto S.Padua Jr.
Loretto in a statement yesterday was of the opinion that Chin and Teo’s change of heart reflects their immaturity.
According to Loretto, there had been so much hype when the duo filed the legal action on September 6 as it was well publicised in all the mainstreams media and the alternative media in the Internet.
“Now the U turn, doesn’t this show immaturity? Or at least it shows that they are consistence in changing their minds, again and again,” he opined.
Loretto claimed that as Chin and Teo had withdrawn their legal action against the president and the Election Committee chairman, it only meant one thing, that Liew’s actions against them are legitimate because the matters which they contended, such as abuse of power, unconstitutional and illegitimacy of Liew’s action in removing and suspending them cannot now be litigated in Court.
That be the case, it will now appear for certain that Liew’s actions in removing them and subsequently suspending them are valid and in accordance with the party’s constitution, Loretto stressed.
“Teo and Chin must realise by now, if they haven’t done so, there is no court order to invalidate Liew’s action. As such, the removal and suspension of Teo as the secretary general of the party on 27 August 2013 stands. Similarly, the removal and suspension of Teo together with Chin plus 27 others on 31st August 2013 by the Presidential Council and the Supreme Council on 8th September 2013 stand too,” he said.
As Teo and Chin were suspended from all their positions in the party earlier by both the Presidential and Supreme Council earlier, it is elementary that they have no “locus standi” anymore to act as the party’s secretary general and the deputy president, Loretto claimed.
“This means whatever they say or have said or act or have acted on behalf of the party immediately after the suspension have no force of law and doesn’t bind the party in any manner whatsoever.
“They, therefore, have no right or power to remove Liew as the party’s president and myself as the party’s secretary general as I was duly appointed by the president in accordance with the party’s constitution.
“Hence, Teo’s reason for withdrawing the suit is frivolous, scandalous and vexatious. For all intent and purpose, Datuk Liew Vui Keong is and still the party’s president and the record of the Registrar of Society proved that,” he said.
On the matter of the EGM which they said they wanted to convene, Loretto said that all procedures and requirements must be complied with as prescribed under the party’s constitution.
This is especially so with regard to the legitimacy of the membership of the delegates. They cannot just simply give a number and say these are the delegates. It is not as simple as that, he pointed out.
“Further, the party’s congress has been scheduled for 19th and 20th of October this year, what is the need for convening an EGM then?” he pointed out.