War of words ensues between Opposition and Penang CM

Penanti assemblywoman alleges she was bullied by the state government on her FB account

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Penang Opposition Leader Jahara Hamid as well as fellow Barisan Nasional assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) today engaged in a war of words during the winding-up of the debate on the address by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas in the state assembly.

Lim said the state government had allocated more than RM70 million for development in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

“We do not support the culture of providing allocation once in five years as practised by the BN,” he said in his winding-up speech.

Jahara (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) questioned that if Lim’s statement was correct then why was it necessary for Penanti assemblyman Norlela Ariffin to table motions to help the constituents.

“How come Penanti (Dr Norlela) said that she was stressed out because her motions raised in the interests of the constituents were rejected,” she said.

Lim said it was not necessary for Jahara to stage a drama because the Penanti representative was not stressed but had contracted Leptospirosis which made her unable to attend the assembly.

Muhamad Farid intervened and said he sympathised with the Penanti representative, but asked why she had to table the motions if the state government had allocated such a large sum for the constituency.

“The Penanti representative herself had said that she was stressed on her Facebook account after her motions were rejected,” he said.

Speaker Law Choo Kiang said the Penanti representative’s motions had to be rejected because they were all on the same issue.

“The Penanti representative tabled four written questions and one oral question, all on the same issue which has been answered,” Law said.

Norlela had claimed in her Facebook account that she was bullied by the state government because all her motions in the interests of the people had been rejected.

– BERNAMA