LDP wants Raymond to quit DCM post

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a Sabah-based Barisan Nasional (BN) component party member, has endorsed its Vice President Datuk Chin Su Phin's call for Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah to resign as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister.

"He should resign in the interest of BN." LDP president Datuk V K Liew told the Press after chairing his party's supreme council meeting in Kota Kinabalu today.

Liew, who is a Federal Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the decision for the endorsement was made unanimous by the supreme council in view of the current political situation in the State.

"Datuk Raymond Tan has not done the most honourable thing like his for ex-colleagues in Sabah Progressive PParty (SAPP) done. By procrastinating, he has begun to cause the public to lost confidence on the Government," he said.

Tan was SAPP Deputy President until Sept 17, 2008 when the party ditched BN. Tan, who is Tanjong Papar assemblyman, stay put in BN and despite without a party, is still in the State Cabinet.

Liew said after the outcome of the meeting today, he would likely be raising the matter with Chief Minister and Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Chin had last week questioned Musa for keeping Tan as Deputy Chief Minister when he is now party-less. In asking the Chief Minister to reshuffle the State Cabinet, Chin also asked why Usukan Umno assembluman Datuk Japlin Akim is still an Assistant Minister despite being suspended from Umno for three years for involving in money politics.

Meanwhile, in another related development, another Sabah-based BN member, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) has called on SAPP Vice President Datuk Frankie Chong to resign as the State Legislative Assembly's Deputy Speaker.

PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is also a Federal Deputy Minister said Chong was stil with SAPP and should not hold on to his government post.

"SAPP had left BN, so Chong should also go as SAPP had abandoned its struggles in BN and now an opposition party," Kurup, the member of Parliment for Pensiangan, said.