Afif describes decision to remove him as 'biased, against democracy'

Embattled Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin has expressed disappointment at the state Pakatan Harapan council's decision to drop him from the government block.

Afif (above), a former state executive councillor, has also be relegated to the opposition block together with two Bersatu assemblypersons who shifted alliance to Perikatan Nasional, the ruling party.

Earlier, all three representatives had pledged support for Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Pakatan Harapan.

"It is clear that the action is biased and was done without good reason, " said Afif, who was the former PKR national youth deputy chief.

"The move is also undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

"The announcement by the state Harapan leadership council was also to deny the rights of the people in Seberang Jaya who voted for me to represent them in the last general election," he said in a statement.

Malaysiakini contacted PKR state chairperson Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik over Afif's remark, and the Balik Pulau MP said he would respond to the matter after discussion with party leaders.

Chow in a press conference yesterday said Afif, Khalid Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifli Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) have been removed from the government block in Penang. 

Chow said a motion will be filed in the Penang Legislative Assembly in November for them to vacate the seats in line with the state's anti-hopping law [Section 114 of the Penang Constitutional Enactment (Amendment) Bill 2012]. 

While the two Bersatu assemblypersons said they did not party hop, Afif has been suspended from PKR for a disciplinary issue related to the "Sheraton Move" that led to the collapse of the Harapan federal government in February.

PKR has yet to decide on Afif, but the second term elected representative had to quit his state exco post following Chow's advice.

Afif said it is a privilege to continue his role as elected representative and voice of the people in Seberang Jaya and Penang.

He surrenders to Allah to give him the strength to fulfil his trust as a representative in Seberang Jaya until the end of this term.

"My removal from the Penang Pakatan Harapan government will not diminish my enthusiasm, and I will be an effective opposition assemblyperson and seek to garner the support of the people in the state " he vowed.

Afif said he had received many questions about his health over the past few days.

Unfortunately, he said, he was involved in an accident while cycling on Tuesday, in Seberang Jaya and is currently suffering from "traumatic brain injury".

"I was admitted to KPJ Bandar Perda Hospital and received treatment the same day and returned 24 hours post-trauma," Afif lamented.

"Thankfully, yesterday I was allowed by the doctor to come back from the hospital and at the recommendation of my doctor I would rest for a while," he added.

It is learnt that former PKR deputy president and Senior Minister Azmin Ali (above), visited Afif, a close ally, after his official visit in Kedah. 

When contacted later, Afif said he was traumatised by Chow's announcement as "just as I was discharged from the hospital, I was also discharged from the government".

He said he was still exploring his options and his political future as he would decide only after Chow files the motion in the state assembly to vacate the Seberang Jaya seat.

"For now, I am still an assemblyperson. I have consulted my lawyer to decide my next move. I have no choice but sit with the opposition now although I have not indicated that I want to quit PKR or change my political alliance," Afif told Malaysiakini. - Mkini