KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Liew Vui Keong went on a sacking spree today in a bid to retain his post in the party’s coming election.
Liew announced the dismissal of 23 of the party’s 35 supreme council members who have aligned themselves to a group who have demanded that the president’s post be open to contest.
A June 9 supreme council meeting had passed a resolution of a “no contest” for the party president and deputy president’s post.
Liew’s removal of the hierarchy of the party sets the stage for a protracted legal battle for control of the Barisan Nasional coalition senior partner.
The party’s ‘presidential council’ which convened at its regional office in Sandakan, endorsed the removal of four division leaders namely Tsang Hieng Yee (Gum Gum chairman), Fam Tze Sin (Kapayan), Sean Tay Yee Chieh (Kapayan) and Lee Chin An (Tanjung Kapor).
The four were removed for failing to attend the last three supreme council meetings without permission or an explanation for their absence.
Also on the chopping block was Deputy President and chairman of Api Api division Senator Chin Su Phin who has been removed from his positions in the party for indiscipline.
The presidential council also endorsed the removal of Lim Ming Hoo, Chin Su Ying, Peter Chong Su Leong, Peter Chang Yun Hin, Chiang Butt Shan @ Chan Bhat Sing, Pak Chee Eng, Pak Fui Fah, Edward Wong Kon Fah, Margaret Chong Mui Ling and Chen Wui En for their recent conduct and behaviour which rendered them unfit to be members of the supreme council.
Also removed from their positions were Tanjung Rapart division members Mu Kok Leong and Robert Cheong. Michael Tsang, a member of Gum Gum Division was also removed.
LDP 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 whom Liew had appointed in 2006 have all also been stripped of their powers.
The letters of termination sent to all were backdated to Aug 30 and stated the grounds of their dismissal. They were said to have failed or refused or neglected to carry out the instructions of the supreme council and by reasons of their recent conduct they have brought the party into disrepute and contempt.
Michael Tham En Fui (deputy secretary general) , Karamunting assemblyman Charles O Pang (treasurer general), Yap Man Kun (chief publicity officer) and Lee Hing Huat @ Michael (organizing secretary) were appointed to fill the vacant positions.
The new presidential council has agreed to allow the president to fill the vacancies of those supreme council members whose positions have either been removed or suspended within the shortest possible time.
Ultra vires
Meanwhile the dissenting group took out a notice in all major newspapers today demanding that the Liew call for supreme council meeting on 6 September 2013 at the party headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.
The new secretary general Loretta Padua Jr informed the presidential council he had in fact received a letter from Chin Su Phin that if the Executive Office fails to issue notice for the said meeting by 4pm today (31 August 2013), they would publish the Notice of Advertisement.
He said although the deadline had not expired, the dissenters had gone on to take out a notice of advertisement.
He said the presidential council ruled that the Notice of Advertisement had no force of law and was ultra vires against the spirit of the party’s constitution.
The presidential council affirmed and endorsed the decision made by the supreme council in their 25th Meeting on 9 June 2013 that the top two positions in the coming party election – namely President and Deputy President – remained uncontested to preserve unity amongst members.
Earlier this week, Liew sacked secretary general Teo Chee Kang when he announced plans to contest for the party’s presidency.
His move prompted 27 of the 25 supreme council members to demand a meeting of the supreme council.
Padua said that they rejected the call by the mutineers for the supreme council to meet on Sept 6.
From Cyril Lim
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