PFP whip loyal to his boss, his friends

True to his words, Liu has since fervently defended Soong on TV talk shows and is considered a core member of the Soong clique.

Long before Liu's formal ouster from the KMT, colleagues in the former ruling party had called his loyalty into question.

In 1997, he lost the election for Keelung mayor to DPP candidate Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) thanks to what critics said was the party's less than whole-hearted support.

Two years earlier, Liu encouraged former Judicial Yuan president Lin Yang-kang (林洋港) to run in the 1996 presidential election, at odds with the mainstream KMT drive to nominate then-president Lee.

As a provincial assemblyman, he endorsed a friend of his, Yang Wen-hsin (楊文欣), as vice provincial speaker though the party favored Lin Hsien-pao (林先保).

Indeed, Liu has repeatedly allowed his loyalty to friends to influence his professional judgment during his 13-year political career.

Soon after entering the legislature in 1999, he attached a "gambling clause" to the lottery law permitting the issuance of lottery tickets alongside major sports events.

The disputed clause was introduced at the urging of Yang, whose family owns Ever Fortune Group and was eyeing the lucrative market.

Years earlier, Liu helped a business partner obtain more than NT$900 million in bank loans. The partner later defaulted an interest payment.

"Liu likes to play the role of a big brother and help solve problems for people he knows," said PFP lawmaker Chiu Yi (邱毅). "His zeal makes him a busybody sometimes."