LDP not welcome into state coalition, says Warisan

Warisan Supreme Council member Martin Tommy says the Liberal Democratic Party offers nothing to the coalition.

Warisan Supreme Council member Martin Tommy says LDP was also seen as being too quick in abandoning BN after the May 9 election results where BN lost power. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah is not keen to accept local opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), into the ruling state government as it could be seen more as a liability now.

Speaking to the media today, Warisan Supreme Council member Martin Tommy said, politically speaking, LDP has nothing to offer to the new government after it lost all the seats it contested in the 14th general election.

Tommy said this in reply to LDP acting president Chin Su Phin’s recent statement after he had tried to pacify Warisan’s leadership with the intention of joining the Warisan-led government.

“Chin is not a trustworthy politician. We have seen him making disparaging remarks against former chief minister Musa Aman in the past. After getting what he wanted, he made a U-turn and supported Musa and the then Umno-led state government,” he said.

Tommy, who is also the political secretary to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong, pointed out that Chin was at one time very close to Warisan’s top leadership during the Barisan Nasional (BN) era but as soon as its leaders left, Chin was quick to abandon his friends.

“He even campaigned against Warisan in the last general election. And in his six years as a senator, we do not know what he has contributed to the state,” he said.

Chin was made a senator in 2011 and his extended term ended last year. He took over the leadership of LDP after former minister Teo Chee Kang resigned as LDP’s president earlier this month.

“Teo went off quietly after leading LDP to a disastrous outing in the last general election, unlike his predecessor, Liew Vui Keong, who had led the party to a 100% election victory,” said Tommy.

Teo became LDP’s president in 2013 after a bitter leadership crisis with Liew, who left LDP under acrimonious circumstances then.

Tommy said looking back, Liew’s departure from LDP was a blessing for him as he was able to turn the tide by joining Warisan and winning the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat with a convincing majority.

LDP was also seen as being too quick in abandoning BN after the May 9 election results where BN lost power.

“This is a stab against an old friend. Like it or not, LDP was BN’s coalition partner for a good 26 years since 1992. As soon as BN collapsed, they abandoned ship. That speaks volumes for their loyalty and trustworthiness,” said Tommy.

Thus, he said, it was obvious the party had lost its bearings and Warisan should not entertain LDP under the present leadership and set of circumstances.

“They did not realise that the people had been crying for a change all this while. Now, when the bubble has finally burst, LDP is seeking an easy way out by wanting to align itself with Warisan with the ulterior motive of just wanting to protect its own political interests. Thanks, but no thanks. Warisan has no place for them,” he said. -FMT