Did Ronnie Liu sign another support letter earlier?

By Neville Spykerman

August 09, 2010

Liu said it “looked like my signature” on the letter, but was “not sure” if he had issued it. — file pic

Look like my signature , Seems like my signature , but Not sure its my signature says Lingam Liu . Only two years , they already show their true color . Give them two terms and the country will be bankrupt . Just like Guan Eng only six months already move into one luxury bungalow claiming someone rented to him . Can you believe that ?

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Another letter of support for the company where Tee Boon Hock’s son is a director and reportedly signed by Ronnie Liu has surfaced — in a twist that could exonerate the municipal councillor sacked by the DAP.

The letter of support for five companies, including the junior Tee’s Perhidmatan AA, dated April 14, 2008, purportedly carries Liu’s signature under his executive council letterhead.

The support letter is addressed to the Environment and Landscaping director at the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to endorse these firms as contractors at Liu’s Pandamaran constituency for jobs worth about RM1 million.

DAP insiders who handed a copy of the letter to The Malaysian Insider over the weekend argued that it indicated Liu had endorsed Perhidmatan AA four months before Tee, who was then his special assistant, signed a similar letter.

“Tee was only following precedent and Liu cannot claim he was in the dark over the issue,” a DAP member told The Malaysian Insider.

Liu had first said there was no abuse of his letterhead but later lodged a police report claiming the support letters were misused. The state government is now investigating the issue but said the practice of issuing such letters will continue although Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders are against it.

Tee was appointed as councillor in July 2008 and the letter of support was issued by him a month later in August. He was sacked on grounds of conflict of interest as it involved a family member.

Tee asserts he had signed all the letters under Liu’s instructions.

The sacked DAP veteran maintained that all the letters of support he had signed were done under Liu’s instructions and he did not know his son was in the firm bidding for a government contract.

When contacted yesterday, Tee told The Malaysian Insider that the police already have a copy of the letter.

“I don’t want to say anything further because I don’t want to jeopardise investigations.”

But Tee added that he would be raising the issue when he appeals against his sacking from the DAP.

Liu, meanwhile, told The Malaysian Insider he was made aware of the letter when questioned by police last week.

“It looked like my signature but I am not sure if I had issued the letter,” said the veteran DAP member, seen as a “blue-eyed boy” of the party leadership.

Liu added that the police also showed him a copy of another support letter which bore a signature he did not recognise.

“I believe there’s a possibility these letters have been forged because I can’t find the originals,” said the first-term assemblyman and state executive councillor.

However, Liu said even if he did sign the letters of support, there would be no conflict of interest as they were issued just after PR had captured Selangor and Tee was not yet a MPK local councillor.

“I am not even sure if Tee’s son was a director of the company at the time,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Liu is scheduled to also go before the DAP disciplinary committee this Thursday over his role in the issue after Tee had implicated him at an earlier hearing.

To prevent further abuse, Liu yesterday said he has removed all letterheads and seals from his Pandamaran office and suspended his three special assistants.

“From now on, I will sign all letter recommendations,” he disclosed.

This follows complaints that his letters have been used by those seeking preferential treatment.