Conflict resolved, LDP back to business

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PENAMPANG: The internal conflicts besetting the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has finally been resolved and now it is back to business as usual for the party, said deputy president Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin.

Chin, stated this in his speech when officiating the LDP Tanjung Aru, Luyang, Putatan and Kepayan divisions’ joint annual general meeting here yesterday.

“Since August last year, our party had been embroiled in months-long internal conflict that has affected its image to a certain degree. But I am pleased to note that most party members have stood by our side and fought for what we believed in.

“We are also thankful that our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, has given his blessing to our leadership, which has been endorsed by the Registrar of Societies (ROS),” Chin said.

He spoke of former party president, Datuk Liew Vui Keong’s legal bid to quash the ROS’affirmation of the party leadership led by Datuk Teo Chee Kang that has been dismissed in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

“Despite so, Liew still wanted to pursue the matter to the Federal Court. I am positive that the Federal Court will stand by the decision of the High Court and Court of Appeal,”he said, and pointed out that Liew’s seven-year tenure as party president and his appointment as a federal deputy minister from 2008 to 2013 would not have been possible without the backing and support from the party.

“Liew is an intelligent person. It should be obvious to Liew that he has lost the support of the party and therefore should stop making baseless allegations. Liew claimed that Teo and I have conspired to overthrow him and take over the party’s presidency.

“We did not have the least intention to do so. What has happened to Liew was because he has lost the support of the party. The ROS and Najib, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, have also recognized the new party leadership.

“Furthermore, my reappointment as senator and the award of honours to LDP leaders by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Ab-dul Halim Muadzam Shah, in conjunction with his official birthday celebration this year were recommended by the new party leadership. This proves that the government has affirmed the legitimacy of the present leadership,” he stressed.

Chin also claimed that party members who supported Liew had resorted to tactics such as using the party’s letterheads and proclaiming themselves as party division chairmen.

They should be aware that their actions have contravened the law, he said, adding: “As the LDP Disciplinary Committee chairman, I have been asked numerous times by members why I did not take action against them.”

“I hereby wish to inform that the Disciplinary Committee has called for a meeting to deliberate on this matter and we have come to the painful decision to suspend the party membership of these members for three years.

“During the three-year suspension period, they have no rights to release any statements in the name of the party or as LDP member. As for Liew’s allegations in the media, I do not think I have to dignify what he said with a response. In my opinion, Liew is the ungrateful one, not me,” Chin said.