Two PKR assemblypersons who abstained from voting against an Umno motion to halt all reclamation projects in Penang in the November sitting of the state legislative assembly have had their directorship in state government-linked companies (GLCs) terminated.

Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen, who is also PKR’s whip in the state legislative assembly, has been terminated from his director’s posts in Penang Invest and Island Golf Properties Bhd, a subsidiary company of Penang Development Corporation, the state’s development arm.

Meanwhile, Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng was dropped from his post as director in the Penang Hill Corporation.

Ong has confirmed receiving the termination letter but declined further comment. Cheah has yet to comment about the matter.

When contacted, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the positions are appointed under the companies where he presides as chairperson.

“When you lose confidence in a person who agreed with you and then reneged on their agreement, how can they function effectively and professionally, especially when I am chairperson?” Lim asked.

Lim explained that the duo incurred the wrath of their colleagues in the state government when they had earlier agreed not to support the Umno motion, which was filed by Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad in November last year.

“They later backstabbed us when they abstained from voting against the motion.

“Now, we have no confidence they will be able to function professionally and effectively and if I, as a chairperson, have no confidence in you, it is only natural that you should know what to do,” Lim said.

Lim said three other PKR representatives - Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok), T Jayabalan (Batu Uban), and Norlela Ariffin (Penanti), who also abstained from voting against the Umno motion - are not affected.

Ong, being party whip in the state assembly, had said the five “voted based on conscience”, while Cheah spoke at a PKR convention in Selangor that “PKR reps will continue to defend public interest”.

‘Constituency allocations unaffected’

Lim later accused the five of trying to stage a coup against Deputy Chief Minister Rashid Hasnon.

However PKR’s national leadership had defended the actions of the five at the state assembly, saying the party allowed voting according to conscience.

“These two are the only positions affected; others are not. As far as their constituency allocations are concerned, it is still not affected.

“When you have clearly taken a decision and later reneged on it, what confidence would I have that you would not do that again to me?” Lim asked.

“If this happens in any other company, your post will be immediately revoked,” he added.

Asked if he had boycotted Cheah’s Chinese New Year do on Wednesday, Lim said he had no recollection of doing so as he was away in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked why the termination was done during the Chinese New Year period, Lim said the duo were informed of the decision in January, and it was also raised and discussed at the state executive council meeting.

“It’s an administrative matter,” said the DAP secretary-general.

Asked if this would affect the DAP-PKR relationship in Penang, he said he does not have any problems with other PKR leaders like Rashid, state assembly deputy speaker and Sungai Bakap assemblyperson Maktar Shapee, or Lee, who still holds his directorship in one of the state GLCs.

The Penang government was severely criticised for planning to carry out reclamation projects in the south of the island as part of the Transport Master Plan, but Lim said the projects have not yet been approved.

He said the state has been holding public consultation exercises with various stakeholders affected by the project.

In the state assembly sitting in November, DAP Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu voted to support the Umno motion but later withdrew and apologised to the party.

Teh had quit his post as organising secretary, before he lost in the party’s internal polls last year.