I resisted move to take LDP out of BN – Liew

Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk VK Liew claims that there was a certain political manoeuvre within LDP to kill two birds with one stone in an attempt to test the allegiance of some of its members.

According to him, it happened during the height of the Mazu controversial issue where the Chief Minister was sued for abuse of power.

Liew claimed that Datuk Chin Su Phin and Datuk Teo Chee Kang had issued statements of no confidence against the Chief Minister when he was away in China for an official visit in August 2010.

“We were close to leaving the BN coalition. But I resisted the move much to the dismay of some. I have a bad habit of recording events in my diaries and I guess it will be made known in a book soon,” he said.

“At that time, after Peter left, I requested the Prime Minister to offer us a senatorship which he obliged instantly. As Chin Su Phin was my deputy, naturally I offered him the post despite his educational background and he gladly accepted, although there were protests from some coalition parties.

“I must say I am a little surprised when he accepted the re-appointment. I thought he would be gracious enough to give his other colleagues, who are more able, a chance to be in the Senate. Grabbing all for oneself is a reflection of greed and selfishness,” Liew said when asked to comment on Gerakan vice president Datuk Raymond Tan’s statement on Chin.

Raymond on Thursday criticised Chin for implicating Pang in his comment on Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu’s joining MCA.

Chin was reported to have said that while the Barisan Nasional discouraged elected representatives from its component parties from jumping ship, none of the component parties had voiced out when Pang quit LDP and joined Gerakan in the past.

Tan, who is also Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Industrial Development, described Chin’s remark as being grossly unfair to Pang and Gerakan.

He especially reminded that Chin was the main reason that Pang decided to leave LDP, as he (Pang) was upset with Chin calling for the resignation of Musa at that time.

Tan said had it not for Chin’s irresponsible act of calling for Musa’s resignation, Pang would not have left LDP to join Gerakan. Tan thus said Chin must not blame Gerakan for Pang’s leaving of LDP.