Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk V.K Liew said the move by Datuk Liew Yun Fah and four others from Tawau to leave the party was expected."His action was expected as his membership together with four others from Tawau were suspended last week unanimously by the LDP Supreme Council pending inquiry by the LDP's discipline committee," said Liew who is also Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister when contacted Friday.
"I wish them all the best in their new endeavour," he said when asked to comment on the action by the former Merotai Assemblyman and about 1,000 supporters to ditch the party and simultaneously, dissolve their respective Merotai and Balung divisions.
On whether Yun Fah and the four should defend themselves instead of quitting, Liew said: "I do not wish to add to that until my disciplinary committee sits and makes its recommendation which now look academic by reason of their action.
"That's what he wishes and he is obviously playing a numbers game," he said when asked if it was true that the former LDP Vice President was taking away 1,000 of the party supporters with him.
In announcing his quitting from the party, Yun Fah said even though the LDP leadership had stated that he and the four others could appeal against the decision to suspend them it was only a ruse to make them leave the party.
On rumours that they would be joining a peninsula-based BN component party, he confirmed that they had been in contact with the People's Progressive Party (PPP) officials but that everything was still under process.
Last Saturday, Liew announced that Yun Fah and four other LDP leaders were suspended, which was unanimously agreed by the Supreme Council following evidence that they had acted against the party and BN interests during the last general elections.
The four others were LDP Merotai deputy chief, Francis Chang and deputy Youth chief, Voon Nyuk On together with LDP Balung chief, Raymond Sia and treasurer of LDP Karamunting division, Lawrence Tan.
