Q&A: I'm no publicity seeker

From attending Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s court appearances to taking part in the protest against MIC’s Maika Holdings, Selangor state exco member Ronnie Liu was everywhere.

With plenty of coverage from the media, some have accused him of being a publicity seeker, but in an interview with Malaysiakini last Thursday, Liu denied this was the case.

During the wide-ranging interview, Liu also said he was the victim of conspiracies hatched against the Selangor government. Below is an excerpt of the interview:

Malaysiakini: Since the March 8 general elections, you have been involved in quite a few minor controversies.

Liu: Unfortunately, I attract a lot of negative attention because of my track record as a politician. Many issues are considered controversial such as the campaign to save SRJK (C) Damansara school, the Broga incinerator or even the Port Klang Free Zone controversy involves (naming people for) corruption and lodging a lot of reports.

I also represented the DAP in a lot of protests, such as those against the increase in fuel prices, against the Election Commission or the Hindraf protests. I was also involved in criticising the police.

Now, things are not much different. I’m still attending demonstrations and criticising (the authorities) and Barisan Nasional, such as raising issues about the past menteri besar.

Such issues, more or less, cause a lot of dissatisfaction among the people involved. This cannot be avoided. When we criticise others, they won’t just let it be. They will strike back. It is difficult to avoid this.

Currently, I’m being charged in court for two cases - one, which is very strange since it was something that happened two years ago, involved me at a hotel which was raided by the authorities. Another was for my participation in the Bersih protest.

Now, the MACC is looking into the state assemblypersons’ accounts. I’ve put the accounts on my blog and my enemies are using it, by modifying the contents, as ammunition against me.

So some Barisan leaders, especially (opposition leader and former menteri besar) Khir Toyo, are using this as an opportunity to attack me. Sadly, some (Pakatan Rakyat) party leaders are creating wild rumours against me. I feel very hurt by this. In Malay, we call this ‘musuh dalam selimut’.

In politics, attacking each other is normal, but I hope they (enemies) will play by a set of rules. Don’t dabble in lies. Criticising each other is okay. But when we perform our duties, we cannot satisfy everyone. Usually, only those with problems come to my office. In any decision, one party will feel that they have benefitted more and the other would be unhappy. This is common.

You are attend many important public functions. Wouldn’t this give the impression that you are a publicity seeker?

What to do? If people think in those terms, I can’t stop them. To understand an issue better, I have to be at the scene. If I get a representative to do it, it would be wrong. For example, in Teoh Beng Hock’s case, some people say that since he didn’t work for me, I need not be there (at the morgue). That is wrong. I must be there to understand.

Now, there is an inquest to his death. I volunteered to be a witness, but the authorities turned me down. Why do I do this? Some people don’t understand.

I believe Teoh’s death was not an accident. I want to see justice for him. I believe that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police had made some mistakes.

I was emotional at the time (the day Teoh was found dead where Liu reportedly kicked the morgue door), but think about it - one of our own have died and they refuse to let us see the body and not answer our questions. Of course, we should be angry.

If we want justice, we cannot just rely on the lawyers. We should be there at the scene. Our observations might be useful, but at least we must tell the lawyers. I read through the autopsy report twice and whatever I think was amiss, I told the lawyers. I have a responsibility to do so.

I attended (most of) the hearing in Raja Petra (Kamarudin‘s) case. Or else I can’t defend him in public.

Why can’t you just wait for someone to report the information to you?

Then I will be slowed down by a few beats. What if the messenger left out certain information? I don’t observe everything, just the things which I feel is very important.

Beng Hock’s case to me is very important because it involves the MACC, which I believe is the tool of Barisan. Some might disagree, but I was the first to know from Beng Hock that the MACC secretly went to take our files.

I was the one who told the other state representatives. I suggested to them to make it public, though it was not my files that was taken.

Issues such as the mobile phone not being returned (to Beng Hock’s family) must be made public, especially since his parents urged me to retrieve the device.

So you can’t just say that I’m a publicity seeker. Those who look at me that way are looking through tainted lenses.

There are a lot of allegations about you on the Internet. For example, the former menteri besar has claimed that after Pakatan took over, the number of massage parlours have increased.

This is fiction. Since 2006, the state government has frozen the licenses for all entertainment outlets. This remains in force today. The ones that remain open were licensed by them (the previous administration). The new ones are illegal. We didn’t approve of it.

The onus is on the police to take action against these illegal outlets. Only they have the authority to do so - to arrest and charge them in court. They can also force the utility companies to stop supplying their services.

The state government can only seal their premises for not longer than one month. They won’t be scared of us. The power is with the police. Khir Toyo and the MCA leaders knows this but dare not tell their superiors and the prime minister the truth. They control the police, not us.

How can we expect the police to help when they are always investigating us? We have met the Selangor police chief three times. Every time he comes here, we urge him to take action, but has he? How much has he done?

Khir is simply making accusations. He said there are 4,000 of such outlets operating illegally. Where did he get the figures? We don’t have them. Does he own these places? Only later on did he say the figures came from the National Security Council, chaired by the prime minister.

Why not then ask the prime minister to order the police to take action? After all, only they know where the 4,000 outlets are.

Then there are other allegations, that the ‘underworld’ escort you around in a Toyota Harrier and that you were spotted having Bak Kut Teh with underworld figures.

These are all rumours. Like I said, I can’t go around asking people if there are gangsters or whether they were formerly gangsters. We are polite people. I always eat Bak Kut Teh out in the open. People can see for themselves.

The Harrier story is fiction. It is always just me and my driver. If people want to keep up, it is not easy. We have three or four functions a day. Your Harrier can’t keep up with us, unless you have a helicopter. My driver is fast beyond description. I shouldn’t state it too clearly (laughs).

You have said before that you have become an ‘easy target’. Why?

Because my scope of work is very wide. Licensing problems and illegal massage parlours are all blamed on me. They think that I’m in charge of licensing. But the people who makes such accusations know that the freeze on such outlets are still on. So they have no other issues.

They can’t say that I’m corrupt because there is no evidence. Then they go through an anonymous blogger. They can’t say I’m lazy because I work seven days a week and don’t even take leave. They can’t say I’m sombong (arrogant) because my door is always open and my mobile phone is always on.

They have to invent something to attack us. I predict that the attack will not stop with me. They have attacked (other state cabinet members) Ean Yong (Hian Wah), Rodziah (Salleh), Elizabeth (Wong) and the menteri besar (Khalid Ibrahim). Even on Dr Halimah (Ali). They will not stop at this. More lies will surface.

What do you mean by divide and rule?

They want to cause infighting among us.

Has MACC started investigation on you?

Not yet. Neither has the police.

So you expect them to come after you?

Of course, but I will have lawyer with me when they do. I would not go to their office. I do not trust them anymore.

Do you think that the ultimate target is still Khalid?

Yes, definitely. Certain people who wants his post are going for him indirectly. I have stood up for Khalid and he has done for us. This is the team spirit that we have. Some people who see this will feel uneasy... so they are using ‘non-electionary’ tactics to remove us from power.

I hope that Pakatan Rakyat will be united and not give ammunition to our opponents. Aim your rifles outside (at the enemy) and not at ourselves. Don’t engage in friendly fire.

Part 1

Liu: I had no hand in beer raid

Q&A: Self-regulate booze sales please!

Part 2

'Gangster links' claim a work of fiction

Q&A: I'm no publicity seeker