Stop your cheap political theatrics, Penang PKR Youth tells Afif

Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin, has ruffled the feathers of his former comrades in PKR, who tell him to "stop your cheap political theatrics".

Penang PKR Youth chief Fahmi Zainol (photo) said Afif had manipulated the statement by Penang Pakatan Harapan chief and chief minister Chow Kon Yeow over the latter’s decision to drop him from the state government block. 

Fahmi pointed out how Afif had won his seat by contesting under the ticket of PKR and Pakatan Harapan so he should not side with Perikatan Nasional.

"Doing so is not only undemocratic but betraying the party's mandate," Fahmi said in a statement.

"But Afif tries again to distract his supporters and sympathisers by confusing them with his latest remarks.”

Yesterday, Afif said the decision to remove him from Penang's government bench was "biased and undemocratic".

Afif had been suspended from PKR pending a disciplinary board decision related to a "rioting" incident during the party's congress last year.

Seberang Jaya is under the Permatang Pauh constituency, a PKR stronghold, and following Afif's removal, its MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will be overseeing the state seat as an “adun angkat”.

Fahmi gave five reasons why Afif's membership in PKR had been suspended including allegations of sabotage and rioting activities at the party's youth congress last year and his purported involvement with the "Sheraton Move".

Afif was accused of conspiring with former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and his political secretary Hilman Idham in the move which led to the collapse of the Harapan federal government.

Fahmi also claimed that Afif and his supporters in the party's youth wing had shown support for PN.

Afif had denied the claim, saying he had not jumped ship or quit PKR to deserve being removed to the opposition bench.

He vowed to continue remaining steadfast as he is still the Seberang Jaya elected representative, “to honour the people's trust and mandate”.

"Afif is most unfit to use the words ‘istiqamah’ (steadfastness) and ‘amanah’ (trust) which he had mentioned in his statement yesterday," Fahmi said.

He reminded Afif that the people condemn corruption, money politics, and backstabbing when they defeated BN in the last general election.

"If he was really steadfast, Afif should have continued to support justice in his party, despite difficult circumstances.

"However, he prefers to be in a 'financial cluster' that is undermining the party and the state government," Fahmi said.

"Afif, stop with your cheap political drama, people can see for themselves the politics you bring.

"It is getting worse in the eyes of the people and the people will soon punish you," Fahmi added.

Other than Afif, two Bersatu assemblypersons - Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) - had also been removed from the state government block for supporting PN.

Chow had said a motion will be filed in the state legislative assembly at the next sitting to compel the trio to vacate their seats.

Chow said this was in line with the state's anti-hopping law, reflected in the Penang Constitution.

However, Khaliq and Zolkifly vowed to challenge the state should they be forced to vacate their seats, saying the anti-hopping law does not apply to them as they did not jump ship but merely shifted their loyalties to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Fahmi reminded the Bersatu duo that their victory in the last polls was due to the collaboration among Harapan component parties, together with DAP, PKR and Amanah.

"The rakyat voted based on PKR's logo during GE14, but these two assemblypersons were driven by wealth and positions," Fahmi told Malaysiakini.

He was referring to the two assemblypersons who had been offered federal posts as the chairperson of the Penang Regional Development Authority (Khaliq) and a member of the board of advisors on Mara Corp (Zolkifly) after they shifted allegiance to PN.

However, Fahmi welcomed the duo's plan to challenge the anti-hopping law, saying it would be good precedence for the state.

"The people will judge, as Penang and Selangor are model states. The move to collaborate with Umno is totally against the wishes of Penangites," Fahmi said. - Mkini