LDP supreme council suspends sec-gen, 23 others

(The Star) – Embattled Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk V.K.Liew moved further to strengthen his position as his supreme council suspended his former secretary general Datuk Teo Chee Kang and 23 others.

Liew said on Sunday Teoh, who is state Special Affairs Minister, and the others were suspended for bringing disrepute, hatred and contempt by their action that disregards the party’s constitution.

 

Teoh together with suspended deputy president Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin were mounting a legal and grassroots challenge Liew’s move to suspend or sack nearly 27 of the 35 supreme council members that supported a challenge to president’s post.

 

Following the suspensions and sackings, Liew has since replaced most of the key positions held by the suspended members using his presidential powers and he reconstituted the supreme council over the last one week.

 

Following the supreme council meeting on Saturday, Liew announced that party vice president Datuk Pang Nyuk Ming, who is a state assistant minister, was appointed acting deputy president of the party.

 

With Teoh taking legal action to nullify Liew’s moves via the courts, Liew maintains that his actions were in accordance to the powers of the president under the party’s constitution.

 

He said the action to suspend those involved was necessary, as they have caused disaffection and disunity amongst the party members.

 

“They have rebelled against the party and have no respect to the party’s Constitution.

 

They were given ample time to resolve the matters or disputes, if any with the president but they refused, failed or neglected to do so,’’ he said in announcing the suspensions.

 

On move by Teoh’s group to hold a rival supreme council meeting, Liew, who a former deputy minister who lost the Sandakan parliament seat in the last elections, said that they did not recognise it.