Ronnie Liu’s team loses in Klang DAP divisional polls
By A.Letchumanan, The Star
PETALING JAYA: A group aligned with Selangor DAP strongman Ronnie Liu suffered an embarrassing defeat when they lost their bid for the various posts during the Klang DAP divisional election at Pusat Sukan Pandamaran in Klang on Sunday.
Liu’s proxy, Ang Leng Kiat only garnered 46 votes while his opponent, Ivan Ho received 93 votes for the division chairman’s post.
Instead, a group calling themselves Justice Reform Group aligned to Selangor state legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim and sacked Selangor DAP organising secretary Tee Boon Hock, who was also the former Klang division chairman, swept the posts. Ho was part of the winning team.
Ang’s defeat is a great blow to Liu, who is aligned with DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng, who tried to gain control of the division held by his confidante-turned rival Tee.
Ho’s team also swept the posts of deputy chairman, vice chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, politial secretary, organising secretary, political education, woman leader and three committee member.
A total of 140 delegates attended the meeting.
The Justice Reform Group has also swept the Petaling Jaya Utara, Kuala Langat and Puchong divisions to strengthen themselves for the Selangor DAP elections on Nov 28.
A DAP official said the win in Klang Division clearly showed the strong influence wielded by Tee in the Klang division.
He said a resolution was also passed urging the National DAP leadership to reinstate Tee’s membership in the party.
There has been a great interest in the divisional elections in Selangor after Tee, a special assistant to Liu was sacked from DAP for allegedly misusing a Selangor exco members letterhead.
Tee, who was also sacked as Klang Municipal Councillor, had appealed against the sacking but the DAP central executive committee had upheld the decision.
The committee, which was chaired by Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, also severely reprimanded Liu over the letterhead controversy.
Last week, Kampung Tunku state assemblyman Lau Weng San lost to veteran James Ooi for the PJ Utara chairman’s post in a keenly fought contest.
Ooi, who is the incumbent, garnered 30 votes to edge out Lau who received two votes less. PJ Utara MP Tony Pua who lost to Ooi in the last election, did not contest but backed Lau, who is also the state DAP secretary.
A DAP official said Ooi’s group swept all the positions except for a vice chairman post which Lau got in on a single vote majority in PJ Utara division.
He said dropped Petaling Jaya councillor Michael Soon, was elected as the division secretary while Selangor DAP publicity secretary Tiew Wai Keng who stood on Lau’s ticket, lost by seven votes to Chris Chu for the organizing secretary’s post.
In Kuala Langat, Teluk Datuk state assemblyman Philip Lim took a severe beating as he only managed 22 votes while his opponent Low Chai Yong received 51 votes for the division chief post.
This is the first time that an election has been held in Kuala Langat as the protem committee was only set up in April last year.
