KOTA KINABALU: The recent press statement by Datuk VK Liew that his lawyers had on January 20, 2014, received a letter from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) signed by the deputy director, one Tuan Haji Alias bin Mamat, on January 7, 2014 has given a different dimension to the claim by Datuk Teo Chee Kang, who said he received a letter dated January 2, 2014 from the same RoS but signed by the director general, one Tuan Mohammad Razin bin Abdullah.
“There appears to be some confusion here because we now have both sides claiming to have received two letters with different dates signed by two different personalities in one government agency,” said M. Rakuman, a political analyst who has some followers in his blog known as OKB.
“I have been following the political development of LDP with enthusiasm and the recent development on their leadership tussle has brought the RoS into a centre stage,” added Rakuman.
“With the two letters, we are inclined to ask which one has precedence over the other? At the moment, neither Liew’s nor Teo’s side has disclosed the contents of the letter fully. They only told us scantly in the newspapers about the letter, which I believe has become the central issue on the legality of Teo’s presidency in LDP,” said Rakuman, who started as a political columnist before becoming one of the bloggers in the cyber media.
“Many in the legal fraternity have questioned the power of the RoS in issuing the letter to recognise or not recognise either faction. To do so is a violation of the Societies Act and the decision of the Federal Court in the recent case of SNAP in Sarawak which has almost a similar dispute like the LDP’s. In that case, the Federal Court ruled that the role of the RoS is one of non-interference when it comes to a dispute of a political party,” explained Rakuman.
“It will be interesting to see if Liew will file a court action against the RoS over the decision made in the letter. I do not see him having much choice but to go to court to get the decision revoked by the court. Under the law, Liew has about 60 days from date of letter to go to court. When this happens, LDP’s leadership dispute will prolong and this may cause further rift in the only Chinese-based party in Sabah BN,” said Rakuman.
“Seeing this as a potentially damaging and breaking point for Sabah BN, the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, in his wisdom, is quick to urge Teo to sit down and talk with Liew over the dispute and the impending court action by Liew. No doubt, the Chief Minister sees that the LDP’s crisis is far from over and wants the two factions to resolve it amicably and quickly. As reported, the Chief Minister impressed this upon Teo last Thursday when the latter paid a courtesy call to invite him for their coming Chinese New Year do.
“The ball is now in Teo’s court as to whether he is willing to see Liew, who was his ‘predecessor’, his comrade for the last 20 over years and who had recommended Teo to be the Sabah Credit Corporation chairman, the LPKB chairman, the candidate for Tg Kapor in the last two elections and lately recommending Teo in the Sabah Cabinet soon after the general election last May.
“To earn respect, we need to show gratitude, humbleness and humility,” stressed Rakuman.
“What is lacking now is the handing over of power from Liew to Teo. Without that little ceremony, Teo will continue to become the condemned president of LDP even if he got RoS’s recognition,” he opined.