LDP plans to drop branches
Published on: Monday, August 17, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is proposing to do away with its branches for more direct and democratic membership via its divisions.Its President Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the proposal would be tabled at the party's annual congress at the end of this year. He said the proposal, if approved by the Registrar of Societies, would change the structure of the 26-year-old party from three to two tiers with a new three-year term for office-bearers from 2018.
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"Our party has withstood the test of time and prevailed against all odds over the years since 1989. Not many political parties in Sabah have lasted for more than 25 years. Our party has existed even before the entry of Umno into Sabah," he said. Teo said this in his address to the Joint Annual Divisional Conference for the party's Usukan, Sulaman, Karambunai, Inanam, Likas, Api-Api, Luyang, Tanjung Aru, Petagas, Kapayan, Moyog, Pantai Manis, Klias and Sindumin divisions held at the packed Wisma Hakka Hall, here, Sunday.After more than 25 years of existence, LDP is poised for constitutional and structural changes in order to be more democratic as the party leadership pines for change in the changing political landscape with various issues like the 1MDB in time to face the electorate in about two years' time. "The only thing constant is change," Teo said of politics invariably adapting to change.
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"However, there are certain principles in politics that cannot be changed such as our principle objectives," he added.Teo explained that the party intends for change to empower the grassroots and instil more accountability, transparency and democracy in the party's set-up, direction and actions to remain relevant.On the proposal to abolish the Presidential Council, Teo said:
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"Its usefulness is appreciated which will ensure that it will be maintained but subject to amendments to clarify its role in the party constitution, for example, to state expressly clear that the Presidential Council has no power to sack or terminate the service tenure of the Supreme Council members."Likewise, the Supreme Council will see proposed changes from currently having 15 elected members and 15 members appointed by the party president to become a consultative leadership body with 20 elected members (an increase by five members) and 10 members appointed by the party president (a decrease by five members)."This is an empowerment of our grassroots for better democracy," he stressed."There should be no compromise on the independence and integrity of our governmental institutions and enforcement agencies to act without fear or favour," the LPD President said on the 1MDB episode, which is a concern of many Malaysians.Earlier, LDP Deputy President Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin, in his address, spoke at length on the various problems the country currently faces, from tragedies like MH370 two years ago to 1MDB now.He said he concurred with AirAsia supremo Tan Sri Tony Fernandez's critique of Malaysia's politicians from both sides for not putting the people's interests first but sweating the small stuff in self-serving race and religion issues that trivialised pressing national interests."Leaders of our country must act with conscience to lead Malaysia towards a better future," Chin said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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