I wish to refer to attacks on the Penang Chief Minister’s Lim Guan Eng criticism of the PH Penang state government being “stabbed in the back” by the 5 Penang PKR State Assemblypersons led by PKR party whip Ong Chin Wen, Lee Khai Loon, Dr T Jayabalan, Cheah Kah Peng and Dr Norlela Arifin for abstaining on the Umno motion on land reclamation in the Penang state assembly last month.
Unfortunately the Penang Chief Minister’s explanation of being “stabbed in the back” was never given full coverage by the BN-controlled mainstream media and some Chinese newspapers. The Penang Chief Minister was upset that the 5 Penang PKR State Assemblypersons(PKR 5) had never voiced their views or objections to the state government’s position, at a pre-council meeting attended by Penang Pakatan Harapan State Assemblypersons that was held before the State Assembly meeting.
During that meeting the Chief Minister had discussed all matters in the state assembly meeting and when he announced that the government would oppose UMNO’s motion, there was neither objection nor dissension from the PKR 5. The only issue arose when an Assemblyperson voiced objection was on the proposed salary increase for State Assemblypersons. Lee Khai Loon had initially objected but after hearing the views expressed by other Assemblypersons had then retracted his objection, and instead expressed his full support for the amendment to the bill giving Asssemblypersons a salary increase.
However on the reclamation motion by the UMNO Assemblyman, no one objected to the Chief Minister’s announcement to oppose UMNO’s motion or mentioned that they intended to abstain. Neither did the PKR 5 spoke during the state assembly debate on the UMNO motion. The Penang state government only knew of their intention to abstain during the voting process itself.
By breaking away from the agreed decision during the pre-council meeting without notifying their own government, is a betrayal of trust that is no different from a stab in the back. If the PKR 5 had wanted a free vote, why fail to bring it up during the pre-council meeting? The Penang Chief Minister would have definitely discussed this together and considered their request.
Why did the PKR 5 go back to what they had agreed on during the pre-council meeting? By now using the excuse of a vote of conscience for abstaining, are the PKR 5 implying that their 4 colleagues who voted against UMNO’s motion, has no conscience?
This betrayal of trust by the PKR 5 is seen as a pre-planned move involving an unnamed PKR National leader that excluded the 4 PKR Assemblyman, who voted against the UMNO motion namely Penang Deputy Speaker Dato Maktar Shapee, the 3 PKR EXCOs of Deputy Chief Minister 1 Dato Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Dato Abdul Malek and Dr Afif Bahardin. Further racial sentiments have been used against the Penang Chief Minister as anti-Malay, even though he was defending the 4 PKR Malay Assemblymen holding government posts, against the PKR 5 who were mostly non-Malay.
Penang Pakatan Harapan opposed UMNO’s motion because the Penang state government faced the risk of bankruptcy if land reclamation projects approved by the previous state government were postponed. Even though the previous state government had approved 3,241 acres of reclaimed land, only 744 acres had been fully reclaimed. The remainder 2,497 acres were about to commence reclamation and if this new land reclamation was postponed, compensation to the tune of RM1 billion may have to be paid.
The Penang Chief Minister had outlined the bitter and painful experience of paying RM 14.7 million(still unrecovered) for the Tang Hak Ju land scandal incurred by BN and another RM20 million to Boustead Holdings Bhd for reducing the height of their hotel in George Town to 5 storeys from the 12 storeys approved by BN.
If these payments are bad, the worst is yet to come. All this payouts are nothing compared to legal suits faced by our Pakatan Harapan government involving land scandals of huge proportions committed by the previous BN state government. The state government is now appealing at the higher courts and we are determined not to allow Penang to go bankrupt.
Bear in mind despite their defiance and betrayal of trust, the Penang Chief Minister had not taken any action against the PKR 5, but considered them still part of the state government. However the PKR 5 would have to work hard to rebuild the confidence they have lost from the Penang state government, after their betrayal of trust.