GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government’s appointment to the Dewan Negara of two politicians with family ties to Pakatan Harapan-linked personages has given rise to claims of preferential treatment in the coalition.
Senator Lim Hui Ying is the youngest sister of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, and Senator Fadhlina Siddiq Fadzil is the daughter of the late Datuk Siddiq Fadzil, a former president of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) who was close to the PKR leadership.
Their proposed appointments were approved by the Penang state assembly on September 1.
Penang PAS secretary Mohd Yusni Mat Piah, who is also the Penaga assemblyman, said that the Islamist party is concerned about whether the candidates can be productive.
“Perhaps we can give the senators the benefit of doubt. But we will be monitoring their performance considering that their appointments have a hint of favouritism,” he said.
He said that while he does not want to specifically touch on claims of nepotism or cronyism or even gender bias, what concerns the party is whether the duo can perform.
“I would rather that we dwell on whether the two candidates can deliver and perform in their roles,” he said.
There is also disappointment that PKR chose to appoint a person from outside Penang to act as a senator on behalf of the state.
Yusni said that the senator’s role is now more important than ever.
As members of the upper House of Parliament, they need to help the government navigate the current crisis – including containing and managing Covid-19, restoring the economy, and stabilising the political situation from its long-drawn quagmire.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (Pinang Tunggal-PKR) and Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy (Prai-DAP) had respectively proposed Fadhlina and Lim as senators for a term of three years.
Lim from DAP will now serve her second term, whereas PKR's Fadhlina takes over from PKR’s Yusmadi Yusoff, a former Balik Pulau MP.
Fadhlina’s late father Siddiq was a comrade of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since their time together in Abim in the 1970s .
Meanwhile, former PKR youth deputy head Afif Bahardin, who defected to Bersatu in June 2020, shared a message circulating on social media that Fadhlina was selected despite being a non-Penangite.
He said that while there is no disrespect to Fadhlina personally, her appointment by the state was unseemly as she does not hail from Penang.
“What is wrong with Penang PKR? Doesn’t the party have anyone from the state to represent them as a senator?” asked Afif, who was a Penang state executive councillor before he left PKR.
He added that Fadhlina’s appointment may expose the fact that PKR no longer has talented leaders within its ranks here. – The Vibes, September 6, 2021
