Two Penang reps may be shelved

Duo critical of govt may not be fielded in GE

GEORGE TOWN: Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin (left) and Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng (right) are among several PKR representatives who may not be fielded again in the coming general election for being critical of the DAP-led state government.

Dr Norlela, 54, said she was not on the candidates’ list, and claimed she was not in the “good books” of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“I will leave it to my party leaders to decide on whether I should contest or not. I know the CM does not like me and a few other assemblymen.

“As my constituency is a rural area, I have been working hard to help villagers who are facing various problems,” she said.

Dr Norlela, who had worked in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the leader of the coalition has the final say on the candidate line up.

She had pressured the authorities to take action against an illegal factory in Sungai Lembu, which has been burning sawdust to produce carbon for the past 10 years.

She came under criticism following the arrest of state exco member Phee Boon Poh, who chairs the environment committee, by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Aug 11 over a probe into the factory.

Phee and two others were released on Aug 14 after the Penang High Court set aside their remand orders.

Cheah said he believed he was still on the candidate’s list although he had been “exempted” from handling the registration of aid for flood victims in his constituency.

“But outside influence may affect my candidacy,” he said, after helping to register flood victims at his service centre in Rifle Range.

Cheah, a lawyer, said he had not received a valid reason for barring him from serving the people who had voted for him.

Meanwhile, Lim confirmed Cheah had been exempted, and that he would take over the duties with the assistance of Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Suey.

“This is merely an internal procedural change to ensure the registration process is done effectively.

“I will answer all questions on this issue after the closing of registration on Dec 2,” he said at a press conference.

Those affected by the floods on Nov 4 would receive RM700 aid from the state government.

Dr Norlela, Cheah and three other PKR assemblymen – Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Dr T. Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) were dubbed the “PKR Five” after they abstained in the vote against a motion on land reclamation tabled by a Barisan Nasional assemblyman in the state assembly in November 2015.

Their relationship with Lim and the party soured after that.