Toe the line or get the sack, PKR five told

The five PKR assemblypersons who abstained from voting out an Umno motion on reclamation in the last state legislative assembly sitting in November are currently feeling the pressure to change their stance.

It is learnt that tension was high during the pre-council meeting held between Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the 30 Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons on Komtar’s 28th floor yesterday, which discussed this controversial issue.

A source alleged that the five were given an ultimatum to toe the state government line or risked being labelled responsible for the break-up of Pakatan Harapan in Penang.

They would also risked being dismissed as part of the Penang government, the source added.

“This was the biggest clash ever between Penang DAP and PKR; everything was on the table,” said a source describing the two-hour meeting.

Yet, there is strong indication that the five – Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga), Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Norlela Ariffin (Penanti), Dr T Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) – will not budge as their principles are at stake.

They had said they abstained from voting against Umno the last time due to “conscience and public interest”.

When asked if the ultimatum was true, Guan Eng said, "please ask the PKR national leadership, that would be more accurate. They have made a decision on the five".

When asked, Norlela said that after the pre-council meeting with Lim, she will follow the party’s leadership decision on the matter.

“We will do our best for the people of Penang,” Norlela told Malaysiakini.

Khai Loon said the party has not decided yet on the matter but will be informed in detail on the impact of reclamation on the island.

“Although the party may have its decision, we as elected representatives of the people must also have our say,” Lee said.

People's livelihood

Many quarters including local NGOs and fisher folk communities are not happy with the reclamation due to its impact on the environment and the people’s livelihood.

The Penang government has been conducting a series of public consultation with various sectors and stakeholders to get their views before the agreement is inked with SRS Consortium, the project delivery partner.

When met at the state assembly during the opening of the proceedings on Tuesday, Ong, who is also PKR whip, told reporters:

“We have no other options since we have abstained the last time. We cannot go backwards, otherwise we need to face the consequences of public opinion,” he added.

The 40 assemblypersons would be called to vote again in this sitting, most probably next Friday, as Umno’s Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad has successfully filed another motion on reclamation.

In his motion, Farid urged the state government to cancel reclamation works involving some 4,000 acres at the southern corridor of Penang Island and seek alternative financing for the RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be in Permatang Pauh on Saturday and it is learnt that the party would discuss the matter, and a decision would be made.

They are cautious as all hell broke loose after the conduct of the five at the November sitting, where Lim went on to sack two of the assemblypersons – Cheah and Ong – from their directors' post in government-linked companies.

Lim described the five as “back-stabbers”, out to stage a coup within PKR to unseat Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon (PKR’s Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson), an accusation which the five have vehemently denied.

Many opportunities

Will the five risk such a controversy again?

A party source said that the PKR representatives will argue against the reclamation projects at the southern tip of the island, but would finally vote against the Umno motion.

After all, Norlela has filed two motions against the ambitious PTMP, and it will be raised directly in the state Public Accounts Committee.

According to Norlela, PAC chairman A Thanasekran has agreed to allow her to raise the issue during the state assembly proceedings, which will commence tomorrow (Friday), and from Monday (May 16) to next Friday (May 20).

A top level PKR leader, who declined to be named, said there are many opportunities for the five to fight the cause against reclamation in Penang.

“There are the state executive councils and the various committees where such concerns can be raised,” he said.

“They should not feel bad if they failed in arguing their case as the councils and committees have 20 to 30 members and the majority voice would always win,” he added. -Mkini