DAP polls: Liu still coy over allegiance

Selangor DAP veteran Ronnie Liu is keeping mum on his allegiance, as the clock ticks closer to their state polls at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre this Sunday.

Speaking to the media for the first time on the party polls today, Liu made it clear he disapproves of the “bad campaign culture” of the so-called Justice Reform Group, purportedly led national DAP central executive committee (CEC) member Teng Chang Khim.

However, he stopped short of explicitly stating support for the Unity Team led by national organising secretary Teresa Kok and is also endorsed by the national party leadership.

This was despite speaking favourably of Kok’s team, which he said had “many qualified and capable leaders”, such as current state chairperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San and former ISA detainee V Ganabatirau.

“You wait for tomorrow’s dinner. We will let everyone know clearly about our team,” he said repeatedly when grilled by journalists on which team he supports, at a press conference at a restaurant in Klang today.

Liu (right) was referring to simultaneous dinners held by both groups tomorrow night in Klang and Petaling Jaya.

Adding to the ambiguity, Liu told journalists that he may make an appearance at both dinners.

However, Liu had harsh words for the Justice Reform Group, accusing them of spreading baseless allegations and making false promises to the 1,100 delegates in their bid to shore up support going into the weekend polls.

Without naming anyone, he also accused them of introducing the cai dan - a list of candidates identifying the team members to delegates – into DAP, noting that this is a foreign practice in DAP according to Liu.

Don’t become another MCA

Liu also accused the Justice Reform Group of allying itself with an “ex-member sacked for abuse of power”, in reference to his ally-turned-nemesis Tee Boon Hock, who is is allegedly campaigning on behalf of the group.

“I’m worried that DAP will become another MCA. There are some who are bringing people to Taiwan for holiday and promising that if they win the polls, they can become candidates (for the next general election).

“If we are in a mess, never mind taking over Putrajaya, we won’t even be able to maintain Selangor. That is why the campaigning should not go overboard,” said Liu.

He conceded that the Justice Reform Group commands a strong following from the grassroots but alleged that this came from “empty promises” of positions on municipal councils and village committees.

On his reasons for contesting, Liu said that he wanted to “realise collective leadership” in the party.

He also maintained that he is not interested in becoming the state chairperson, a post he relinquished in 2004 after Selangor DAP fared badly during the 2004 general elections.

“This is not only an important battle for me, but also for the state and national DAP. I will do my best as an executive councillor, and become a core member of Selangor DAP leadership.

“This is enough for me. I think this is the best for the party,” he said.