Guan Eng’s aide rubbishes allegation of Kebun Bunga rep

Thursday, 25 February 2016 | MYT 1:29 PM
by christopher tan



GEORGE TOWN: The political secretary of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has rubbished Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng’s allegation that his constituents are being deprived of their rights.  


Cheah claimed that his removal from the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) board was equivalent to depriving his constituents of their constitutional rights, and could be illegal.  


“The argument that the voters of Kebun Bunga will be denied the opportunity to participate in the management of PHC is unfounded,” said Wong Hon Wai (pic).  


“The main operation of PHC for instance, the multi-storey carpark, ticketing counter, train station and the track, the scenic view platform, hawker centre, hotel and restaurant are not under the state constituency of Kebun Bunga.   

“There is a voting centre on the peak of the hill which is under the state constituency of Air Putih,” Wong said in a statement Thursday.  


Wong said that the core area of Penang Hill is under the Air Putih state constituency.  


“Other adjoining areas are from the Air Itam, Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Kebun Bunga state constituency. The state assemblymen from Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong are neither the directors of PHC.   


“Furthermore, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari is a director of PHC and he is rightly qualified to represent the interest of voters in Kebun Bunga as well,” Wong said.  


Cheah was one of two PKR assemblymen who were sacked from Penang government-linked companies recently because they abstained from voting on a land reclamation motion tabled by Umno at the state assembly in November last year.  


The other assemblyman is Bukit Tengah representative Ong Chin Wen, who is also Penang PKR whip. He lost his director's posts in Invest Penang and Island Golf Properties Bhd, a subsidiary of Penang Development Corporation.  


Wong said Lim had stated the stance of the state government to oppose the motion raised by Umno during a pre-council meeting on Nov 4 last year, before the state assembly sitting.  


“The PKR backbenchers including Cheah did not voice their views nor objecting to it. All the 29 Pakatan Harapan assemblymen attended the pre-council meeting with the exception of Penanti assemblyman who was on medical leave,” he added.  


The other PKR backbenchers who abstained from voting on the Umno motion were Dr Norlela Ariffin (Penanti), Dr T. Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk).


http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/02/25/guan-eng-aide-rubbishes-kebun-bunga-rep-allegation/