Apparently controversial DAP politician Ronnie Liu had to cope with some heavy weather including hints that he should take responsibility for the support letter issue which had "damaged the party image".

According to sources, DAP life advisor Dr Chen Man Hin had dropped the hints aimed at the Selangor state exco member at the party central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Thursday night.

NONE Sources claim that Chen had asked Liu ( right) to take responsibility for the support letter issue as it had tarnished the party's image.

They claimed that the meeting at the party headquarters saw heated debate over the party disciplinary committee's decision to reprimand Liu.

It is learnt that there was a brief silence after the disciplinary committee chairperson Tan Kok Wai briefed the CEC on the decision to "severely reprimand" Liu and "strongly advise" Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim.

Sources told Malaysiakini that Chen was the one who broke the silence to point out that the whole episode had tarnished the party image. They also claimed that Chen and few other leaders had concurred with the form of disciplinary measure taken against Liu.

teoh beng hock memorial night 160710 kit siang It is learnt that DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang ( left) , shared the feeling that the party had been damaged by the issue.

"Liu kept quiet throughout the debate. Some leaders also told the CEC that a lot of Internet comments had pointed the finger at Liu."

One of the sources' interpretation of Chen's words was that he was hinting that Liu should resign in order to maintain the party's strength.

However, others believed that Chen was saying that Liu should shoulder the responsibility but not quit.

A DAP leader, who requested anonymity, said Liu should quit to take moral responsibility for the whole episode.

"'Reprimand' is a very strong word, he would have resigned if he had been in other countries," he said.

'It's up to Liu to decide'

When contacted, Chen refused to confirm whether he had called for Liu to step down.

However, the party veteran said: "It is up to Liu to decide whether he needs to resign if he thinks he had done some serious mistake like corruption.

"But based on the evidence so far, there is no such thing," he added.

He explained that the "reprimand" served to Liu, was already a form of punishment and disciplinary measure.

Liu also refused to comment on the issue of quitting.

Instead, he told Malaysiakini that details of CEC meetings should remain confidential.

According to Liu, he has already taken responsibility for the controversy and has paid the price of being reprimanded by the DC.

"I have paid the price and the party has already set a clear example; we should move on," he added.

Asked whether he would appeal against the disciplinary committee's decision, he said his main focus is on his job.

"If I appeal against the decision, people might think that I am the kind of person who never acknowledges his own mistake."

He said that he could not keep in mind that everything that he did was to the satisfaction of others, "but deep in my heart, I know I have done nothing wrong."

dap disciplinary hearing on ronnie liu and teng chang kim 120810 member of committee 02 Liu was reprimanded by the powerful committee for failing to "manage his office in accordance with public expectations".

He is the Selangor state exco in charge of the local government, study and research committee.

Liu was embroiled in the controversy when allegations arose that former Klang municipal councillor Tee Boon Hock - a former aide of the Selangor exco - had misused his letterhead and seal in issuing support letters for 20 companies seeking about RM1 million in state government contracts.

During a hearing last week, the disciplinary committee had sacked Tee after finding that he had issued a support letter to a company linked to his son.