Ronnie Liu’s wriggle

“[J]udging from what Tee has explained, I have no problems with the letters.”

SELANGOR executive councillor Ronnie Liu, defending his special assistant Tee Boon Hock in a joint press conference on 28 July 2010. Tee was alleged to have issued letters of support using Liu’s official letterhead and seal to help cronies and family secure contracts amounting to RM1 million.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said on 27 July 2010 that the state had started investigating the allegations two weeks before it was exposed by The Star. Tee denied the allegations at the joint press conference with Liu.

However, Khalid advised Tee on 30 July 2010 to go on leave pending the investigations. Khalid said the Selangor audit department was expected to complete its investigations in a month. (Source: Tee lied to us, explains S’gor DAP over ‘reversal’, Malaysiakini, 4 Aug 2010)

From “no problem” to being a “victim”

“Somebody misused my letterhead and [forged[ my signatures. That somebody should face the consequences. In this case, I am a victim.”

Liu lodged a police report on 2 Aug 2010 over allegations that his official letterhead and seal had been misused and his signature forged by “somebody” to issue letters of support to contractors. Liu said he had to lodge a report after Tee claimed that he issued the support letters under Liu’s instructions.

On 31 July 2010, the DAP expelled Tee on the grounds that he had issued a support letter without Liu’s authority to a company in which his son was a director. Tee claimed, however, that he had been victimised in the whole incident. He further claimed that after discovering that his son was involved, he removed the company from the municipal council list.

Khalid said Tee remains a municipal councillor until the Selangor audit report was completed for the state to make a decision. Selangor MCA and Selangor Umno Youth, meanwhile, said Liu should step down from his office until the police investigations were completed. (Source: Liu and Tee give statements in ‘letterheads’ case, New Straits Times, 3 Aug 2010)

Shifting attention to the “enemy”

“Knowing who controls the MSM (mainstream media), we should not give the BN the opportunity to create spins and lies to distract the public from their own problems. We must not forget our real battle – to overthrow BN, not our own members.”

In an open letter, Liu, who is also a Selangor DAP committee member, urged his colleagues to resolve internal party conflicts “through the proper channels in the party and within Pakatan (Rakyat)”. He did not name the colleagues involved.

Immediately after Tee was expelled, DAP veteran Teng Chang Kim tweeted: “OMG! Real culprit is freed.” Subsequently, Teng was summoned to attend a DAP disciplinary committee hearing on 12 Aug 2010 to explain his tweet. (Source: Open letter from Ronnie Liu, My Sinchew, 6 Aug 2010)

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