GEORGE TOWN – Despite the justification given by the four Perikatan Nasional (PN) representatives who were expelled from the state assembly, they have betrayed the people’s mandate, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
The usually calm Chow (Padang Kota-PH) was in a fiery mood during the debate on the motion to expel the four PN assemblymen earlier.
He said the four representatives missed the point of the motion as the state government did not pursue their expulsion in a hurry.
“I think they missed the point (of this motion) completely. We waited for two and a half years because they took the matter to court. We waited until the Federal Court decided on the matter, and we also awaited the decision of the (Penang) High Court after they sought an interim injunction to delay the state’s decision.”
“However honourable your arguments may be, the four of you betrayed the trust of the people who voted for you on the basis that you were part of Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“You have raised points about doing your jobs and all kinds of allegedly honourable acts to justify yourselves. I think the most honourable act you can do is vacate the seats.”
Chow also accused the four of not understanding Penang’s anti-hopping legislation passed in 2012.
“We cannot belittle our voters. When we seek to be elected, we embrace the parties and voters. When we are elected, we become self-centred and only think of ourselves instead of the people.”
He added that the motion was necessary to show that Penang does not condone any betrayals of the people’s mandate.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Pantai Jerejak-PH) said in the debate that the Sheraton Move had caused instability and eroded the public’s trust in politicians.
He also urged the four backbenchers to accept and respect the decision of the assembly here.
Other representatives who took part in the debate were Gooi Hsiao Leung (Bukit Tengah-PH) Chris Lee (Pulau Tikus-PH), Muhammed Faiz Fadzil (Penaga-PH), and Daniel Gooi (Pengkalan Kota-PH).
Gooi reminded the four PN representatives that the motion was being debated under state laws and that it was to protect voter interests against party-hopping.
However, Lee quipped a loud “bye-bye” towards the end of the debate before the representatives voted on the motion.
More than two-thirds of the 40-member assembly voted in favour of the motion after state Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang presided over a vote count.
The four assemblymen – led by Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sg Acheh), Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Telok Bahang) – then exited the chambers.
Khaliq Mehtab told the media outside the assembly that Penang is at the risk of running afoul of federal law as the state’s anti-hopping law is different from the constitutional amendments passed in Parliament last year.
The four had argued in the assembly that they were loyal to their parties, which had switched coalitions, and that they did not join the PN alliance on their own. – The Vibes, March 6, 2023
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