PKR rep can challenge GLC sacking in court, Penang CM aide says

Last updated Friday, February 26, 2016 10:46am
By Opalyn Mok



































DAP's Wong Hon Wai (pic) says PKR assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng can go to court to prove his sacking is illegal. ― File pic


GEORGE TOWN, Feb 25 ― PKR assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng can go to court to prove his claim that his sacking from the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) had been illegal, DAP's Wong Hon Wai said.


The political secretary to the Penang chief minister also pointed out that Penang Hill is not under Cheah's constituency.


“The main operation of Penang Hill Corporation is 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 responding to Cheah's allegations against the state government.


Cheah, who is Kebun Bunga state assemblyman, yesterday claimed his removal from the state government-linked corporation (GLC) had effectively deprived his Penang Hill constituents of their constitutional rights, also labeling it a “big mistake” that may even be “illegal”.


Wong insisted, however, that the core area of Penang Hill is under his constituency, Air Putih, while other adjoining areas fall within the constituencies of Air Itam, Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Kebun Bunga.


He said Cheah's argument that the voters of Kebun Bunga will be denied the opportunity to participate in the management of Penang Hill Corporation is unfounded.


He pointed out the Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong state assemblymen were also not directors of PHC.


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


He explained that the action against Cheah and fellow PKR assemblyman Ong Chin Wen was because they had failed to voice their objections in a pre-council meeting on November 4, 2015 when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng raised objection to the land reclamation motion by Umno.


“All the 29 Pakatan Harapan assemblymen attended the pre-council meeting and PKR backbenchers including Cheah did not voice their view or objected to Lim's stance,” Wong said.


He said the state assembly lasted for six days and Cheah neither raised his concerns on Umno's motion during that period nor informed the three PKR state executive councillors in the state government.


“Cheah did not participate in the debate during Umno's motion and Pakatan Harapan assemblymen came to know about his intention when he casted the abstention vote,” Wong said.


He called this a betrayal of trust and said it was no different from “a stab at the back”.


He also asked why Cheah failed to mention this at the pre-council meeting or during the six days of assembly sitting.


Cheah and Ong were recently removed from their posts in GLCs after they abstained from voting against the land reclamation motion proposed by Umno last November.


http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pkr-rep-can-challenge-glc-sacking-in-court-penang-cm-aide-says