KOTA KINABALU: Over two-thirds of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) supreme council members have jointly signed a letter to express their loss of confidence in their party president Datuk Liew Vui Keong, said LDP deputy president Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin.
This means that more than two-thirds of the supreme council members have denied Liew’s power as party leader on August 28, thus rendering his actions after August 8 illegal, Chin said when commenting on Liew’s announcement to sack Chin and 28 supreme council members on August 31.
Chin, who claimed that he is still the legal deputy president of LDP, said 27 of 35 supreme council members attended the press conference he called on August 28.
“Twenty-seven supreme council members signed their names in the written requisition to the party president to hold a supreme council meeting to resolve the current crisis of the party on that day (August 28).”
He said the majority of the supreme council members, or more than two-thirds of the council members have put down their signatures, which meant they have lost confidence in Liew’s leadership.
“Although the party president has certain powers, the basic requirement is that the president must have the support from more than two-thirds of the supreme council members.
“When Datuk Liew Vui Keong lost the support from the two-thirds of supreme council members, he has lost his power.”
Chin continued to say that Liew notified seven members of the presidential council, including Chin, of a meeting in Sandakan on August 31.
According to Chin, the presidential council has 16 members while the quorum is at least eight members.
Chin said only Liew and the ‘new secretary general’ Loretto S. Padua Jr were present at the presidential council meeting till noon on August 31. This means that the presidential council on that day should be aborted due to a lack of quorum, he said.
However, Liew announced the sacking of over 20 supreme council members, including Chin, deputy secretary general Ho Jia Lit, treasurer general Fong Keng Sin, deputy treasurer general Albert Ngan Yun Kiang, chief publicity officer Albert Kok Yuk Ken and organising secretary Yong Wui Chung after the meeting was aborted.
This was followed by Liew’s announcement on his newly-appointed treasurer general, chief publicity officer, organising secretary, deputy secretary general, deputy treasurer general and three supreme council members, and held a presidential council meeting after that.
Chin said Liew’s actions were clearly an abuse of power which violated the Party Constitution.
Chin said he had received a letter on September 2 from the ‘new secretary general’ Loretto, which he believed was an instruction from Liew. The letter states the removal of Chin as the member of the supreme council on grounds that he failed to carry out the recent instructions of the supreme council made on June 9, 2013.
Chin argued that this was a tyranny by the party president, as even though the supreme council has agreed on retaining the leadership of the party president and deputy president, member Chia Butf Shan @ Chiang Bhat Sing has pointed out that the supreme council should accept contests for the top two party posts if any party members wished to do so.
Hence, Chin said it was illegal for Liew to sack the deputy president and supreme council members from their posts on these grounds.
The letter to Chin also states that the presidential council has decided to suspend him and remove him from his respective positions in the party pending action by the disciplinary committee.
“I am the disciplinary committee chairman, doesn’t that sound self-contradictory?”
The letter also warns Chin against speaking or releasing any press statements or attending or officiating whatever functions of the party or do or say whatsoever on behalf of the party, failing which further action can be taken against Chin.
“On what grounds can Liew stop me from speaking to the media? Even the Prime Minister will not prohibit others from speaking… this shows the prime minister is open-minded and Liew is being tyrannous and overbearing.
“Sue me if you can, I’ll see you in court!”
Chin further said that the letter had stated that Chin had instructed LDP Women Movement how the funds should be disbursed.
Chin clarified that he had never instructed the Women Movement on how to use their funds.
As the deputy president, Chin said the Women Movement has sought his opinion and he merely provided his opinion, not ‘instruction’ on how to disburse the funds per se.
Chin said the allegation was a slander and a tactic to damage his reputation, and he would reserve the right to take legal action.
On the other hand, Chin said the supreme council meeting requested by the 27 supreme council members would be held legally on September 6 (Friday), 8pm and the outcome would be announced after the meeting.