KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang urged party members to adopt a mature attitude and respect the ruling by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
He said members should place the party’s interest above personal differences and move forward as a team.
Teo, who is also the Special Tasks Minister, said this when attending LDP Kepayan division committee annual dinner here on Thursday.
Teo said he was happy to see committee members of Kepayan division that evening, as all of them were passionate about the party.
He continued to say that party members had been upset about the leadership tussle that began since August last year.
“I know our party members did not wish to see this (party crisis) happen, but a lot of things are unavoidable in politics.
“This leadership tussle was caused by a change in circumstances.”
After the party congress and elections were held on October 19-20 last year, Teo said both sides have quietened down to allow the relevant authority to investigate and deliberate on the issue.
“On January 2, I, deputy president Datuk Chin Su Phin and organizing secretary Peter Chong went to the ROS in Putrajaya, where we obtained an official letter endorsing the party congress and elections held on October 19-20 last year.
“The ROS also endorsed the full Supreme Council line-up, both elected and appointed council members,” Teo reiterated, adding that the director general of the ROS had signed his name and verified that the Supreme Council line-up was legitimate.
“Since the authority has made a decision, we should respect and accept it,” he said, while stressing the need to close ranks with party members.
Teo said the leadership tussle had caused certain level of damage to the party, but he was glad that the crisis was resolved in four months, thus minimizing the damage.
On another note, Teo expected to see more divisions seeking to close ranks with the party leadership from now onwards.
“We do not want people to say that there is in-fighting within the party.”
Teo added that LDP must continue to play its role as an efficient BN component party in Sabah, and to restore confidence among their members and voters to garner their support in the next general election.
Meanwhile, LDP Kepayan division chairman Johnny Yong said the committee and members of the division would work with Teo in party affairs.
“More importantly, we need to restore the people’s confidence in our party and Barisan Nasional (BN).”
Yong said the division had kept mum during the leadership tussle but he believed that members have calmed down now.
“ROS has endorsed the leaders in Teo’s team.
“I believe our party has more important roles to play in the future. I believe Kepayan division members and committee will work together with him (Teo) in pursuing our party struggle, and more importantly, to restore the people’s confidence in our party and BN.”
Also present at the dinner were LDP deputy president Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin, secretary general Yong Wui Chung and organizing secretary Peter Chong Su Leong.