KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) today denied news of a mass departure where 405 of its party members were said to have jumped ship to join opposition party, Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan).
LDP secretary-general Datuk Yong Wui Chung said the party headquarters had only received resignation from three members in the Tungku Division.
They are former Tungku LDP division deputy chairman Shin Chee Kwong, Chai Yun Loi and Sam Kun Chun.
“There is no exodus of 405 members as claimed by Warisan. Our Tungku Division was suspended in 2014 and it has yet to be restructured.
“Therefore, although Shin was the deputy division chairman, he did not hold any party position since the suspension,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that LDP’s strength in Lahad Datu and Tungku remains intact and he urged all members in the two state constituencies to stay united and committed to the party’s struggle under the leadership of party president Datuk Teo Chee Kang.
“To the few members who crossed over to their perceived greener pastures, I wish them good luck,” said Yong.
Yesterday, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was in Lahad Datu to receive 2,250 membership applications at the party’s meet-and-greet session.
It was reported that 405 members from LDP had submitted their application to join Warisan. This was followed by 766 members from Umno, 207 from Parti Bersatu Sabah and 75 from State Reform Party.
A total of 797 other individuals had also pledged to be Warisan members.
Shafie had said the support given by the people towards the party was not only from the Malays but also the Chinese community.
“This is a good thing and (it only means) strengthen support for Parti Warisan in facing the coming general election.
“The current situation in the state is worsening as well as the economy. People should be brave to change the government. If this situation continues, it will affect the lives of people, especially in Sabah,” he was quoted as saying.