Guan Eng no bully, aide tells Puteri Umno

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is no bully, according to his special legal officer Raja Syarafina Raja Shuib.

Lim was accused of bullying Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin in the Penang legislative assembly by Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin yesterday.

In a 2015 sitting, Norlela reportedly broke down in tears over the lack of budgetary allocations for tourism and development activities in her constituency.

Raja Syarafina denied that the outburst had nothing to do with Lim.

“While the state assemblywoman concerned may have had outbursts in the Penang state assembly in Nov 2015, on what basis could Lim be blamed for someone’s emotional state?

“He was not even in the august hall at the time when she broke down,” Raja Syarafina said, adding that Mas Ermieyati should back up her bullying claims with proof.

Mas Ermieyati, who is also the Tourism and Culture deputy minister, made the remarks at the “Wacana Sinar Siri 49 Menjelang PRU14: Kuasa Undi Wanita” forum on women voters yesterday.

Raja Syarafina initially believed that the deputy minister’s attendance at the event was a step in the right direction, saying that the exchange of views by female personalities from across the political divide was “a breath of fresh air.”

“Unfortunately (she) suffers from the same disease of outright dishonesty as her male counterparts.

“As a female leader and in solidarity against any case of misconduct against a fellow woman, she ironically chose to discount the lewd and vulgar comment made by Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok,” she claimed.

Raja Syarafina was referring to a parliamentary session during which Tajuddin said “The only woman with a 'Kok' is in Seputeh.”

“I agree that we need more female representation in this country, especially leaders. But as a female voter, I need mature and capable female leaders who can actually deliver.”

“I need female leaders who are also truthful as they are honest so that society’s respect for gender equality is earned based on their worthiness as leaders in their own right.

“I do not need female leaders who are armed with nothing but empty rhetoric, baseless lies and manipulation of emotions for votes, (who will) lose the respect of both men and women,” she said. - Mkini