Was LDP silenced by promotions?
Tony ThienPublished: May 21, 2009 7:25 AM | Updated: May 21, 2009 7:38 AM
Barisan National (BN) Sabah component Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been criticised for changing tracks by choosing now to remain silent on state chief minister Musa Aman, following recent promotions of its party members to state ministerial posts.
Barisan National (BN) Sabah component Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been criticised for changing tracks by choosing now to remain silent on state chief minister Musa Aman, following recent promotions of its party members to state ministerial posts.
Is LDP's ‘bountiful gain' from the recent state cabinet reshuffle a trade-off for it to stop criticising Musa Aman?, asked David Chong Ket Suit, former BN component Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) Api-Api central liaison committee chairperson, in a statement to Malaysiakini.
LDP is known to be critical of the chief minister (left) over the issues of retaining Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, the previously party-less and former Sapp deputy president, as well as Japlin Akim who was suspended by Umno for his involvement in money politics.
Chong noted that LDP has been silent since the party's vice president Peter Pang was promoted to the deputy chief minister post, replacing Tan. Assembly person Pang Nyuk Ming was appointed as assistant infrastructure minister.
"This (LDP's silence) was despite the fact that Japlin is still being retained in the state cabinet," he added.
LDP's about-turn
Chong added scorn over LDP president V K Liew's statement when he was claimed to have said that the appointments of its leaders in the new state cabinet line-up were recognition by the state government of the party's struggles and contributions to the state.
"I don't think this is the case. If it is, then perhaps Liew should enlighten me and Sabahans on what are the real contributions of the party to the state all this while," Chong said.
On the eve of the cabinet reshuffle, Liew called for a press conference to support and reiterate calls made by LDP deputy president Chin Shu Phin to urge Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to intervene by instructing the chief minister to drop both Tan and Japlin from the state cabinet.
Chong said Liew should now give a satisfactory explanation on the party's about-turn on Japlin's position in the state cabinet. Otherwise, it would only prove his theory right that LDP was earlier using the awkward positions of Tan and Japlin to bargain for state positions for the party.
"Is this what Liew meant by LDP's contributions to the state?" Chong questioned.
Despite LDP being a small party, Chong reckoned should it plays its cards well, Umno would kowtow to the party.
He also took a swipe at Tan, who failed to retain his DCM post, despite his decision to join Gerakan, the second largest component party in BN. Chong described Tan as a sacrifice in someone else's negotiation.
"Perhaps if he (Tan) was as outspoken as Chin (Shu Phin) he wouldn't have ended up like this," he said.
Is LDP's ‘bountiful gain' from the recent state cabinet reshuffle a trade-off for it to stop criticising Musa Aman?, asked David Chong Ket Suit, former BN component Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) Api-Api central liaison committee chairperson, in a statement to Malaysiakini.
LDP is known to be critical of the chief minister (left) over the issues of retaining Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, the previously party-less and former Sapp deputy president, as well as Japlin Akim who was suspended by Umno for his involvement in money politics. Chong noted that LDP has been silent since the party's vice president Peter Pang was promoted to the deputy chief minister post, replacing Tan. Assembly person Pang Nyuk Ming was appointed as assistant infrastructure minister.
"This (LDP's silence) was despite the fact that Japlin is still being retained in the state cabinet," he added.
LDP's about-turn
Chong added scorn over LDP president V K Liew's statement when he was claimed to have said that the appointments of its leaders in the new state cabinet line-up were recognition by the state government of the party's struggles and contributions to the state.
"I don't think this is the case. If it is, then perhaps Liew should enlighten me and Sabahans on what are the real contributions of the party to the state all this while," Chong said.
On the eve of the cabinet reshuffle, Liew called for a press conference to support and reiterate calls made by LDP deputy president Chin Shu Phin to urge Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to intervene by instructing the chief minister to drop both Tan and Japlin from the state cabinet.
Chong said Liew should now give a satisfactory explanation on the party's about-turn on Japlin's position in the state cabinet. Otherwise, it would only prove his theory right that LDP was earlier using the awkward positions of Tan and Japlin to bargain for state positions for the party.
"Is this what Liew meant by LDP's contributions to the state?" Chong questioned.
Despite LDP being a small party, Chong reckoned should it plays its cards well, Umno would kowtow to the party.
He also took a swipe at Tan, who failed to retain his DCM post, despite his decision to join Gerakan, the second largest component party in BN. Chong described Tan as a sacrifice in someone else's negotiation.
"Perhaps if he (Tan) was as outspoken as Chin (Shu Phin) he wouldn't have ended up like this," he said.
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