THE DAP disciplinary committee chief has brushed aside the one-week ultimatum given by Bersatu’s Youth wing to act against its Sg Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu.

Chong Chieng Jen said no one should dictate the manner and time frame involved for the party to discipline its members.

Chong said the threat by Bersatu Youth of an “open attack against all DAP leaders” if the party fails to discipline Liu as “most unbecoming, immature and counter-productive to a united Pakatan Harapan (PH) government”.

Chong, who is also the deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, said while DAP is open for the public to lodge a complaint against any act of indiscipline committed by its members, it however does not appreciate being dictated by anyone on how it should discipline them.

“As the disciplinary committee chairman, I wish to reiterate that DAP is a party of discipline and will not compromise on any act of indiscipline amongst our members.

“We have a high standard of discipline and our internal procedure to enforce such discipline,” Chong said in a statement.

He also said the committee has received a complaint against Liu and his October 22 opinion piece and statement which criticised Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad – titleed Mahathir: The Paper Tiger, published in Malaysiakini and Ronnie Liu takes a swipe at Dr M, says Pakatan will still be fine without Bersatu published in The Star – and has already started the process to deal with the complaint.

Chong said he and the committee he chairs are therefore dismayed by the ultimatum made by Bersatu Youth chief and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman as “most unwarranted and should not be repeated”.

“We have all worked hard to win the 14th general election and form this government not on our own but made possible by the strong people of Malaysia.

“Let’s channel our energy and effort to deliver the reforms which we have promised to make Malaysia a better and stronger country instead of being distracted by indiscipline and immaturity within the PH coalition,” Chong said.

Liu, however, has remained defiant and had refused to retract his criticism against Dr Mahathir and Bersatu.

Saying he had done nothing wrong and was only exercising his right to freedom of speech, Liu said he is willing to face disciplinary action.

Liu’s criticism of Dr Mahathir and warning Bersatu against “making decisions not aligned with PH values”, angered Bersatu leaders like Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik and Syed Saddiq.

Maszlee said Liu’s remarks were disrespectful and uncalled for. – October 24, 2019.