Backbenchers reiterate support for Penang PH govt

GEORGE TOWN: Twenty-two backbenchers in the state yesterday reiterated their backing for the Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

This came amid reports of the sacking of two PKR assemblymen by the party on Sunday. They were Seberang Jaya’s Dr Afif Bahardin and Sungai Acheh’s Zulkifli Ibrahim.

In a statement signed by the 22 elected representatives, who included 21 backbenchers and one deputy state speaker, they voiced their support for Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s administration.

The backbenchers said they were aware of rumours that several Penang PH assemblymen may abandon the party to support a Penang PN government.

“We, as the PH backbenchers, want to reiterate that we reject any backdoor effort to topple the Penang PH government.

“We will never betray the people’s mandate. Any attempt to topple the state government is against the democratic principle and will not be forgiven by the people,” they added.

Besides Chow, his 10-person state executive councillors also did not sign the statement.

The backbenchers advised their friends turned opponents to be responsible and not spread all sorts of slander.

“We also want to remind all our friends on the opposite side of the bench, who think that party hopping is normal, to be mindful of the state’s anti-hopping law.”

Recently, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s assemblymen Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) and Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) also withdrew their support for the PH government and voiced their support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The signatories of the statement include Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Pantai Jerejak), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah (Sungai Bakap), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok), Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (Permatang Pasir), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam) and Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang).

Others were Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus), Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (Pengkalan Kota), H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi), Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Seri Delima), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam), Mustafa Kamal Ahmad (Telok Ayer Tawar), Gooi HsiaoLeung (Bukit Tengah), Goh Choon Aik (Bukit Tambun), Ong Khan Lee (Kebun Bunga), Kumaresan Aramugam (Batu Uban), Mohd Tuah Ismail (Pulau Betong), and Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Bayan Lepas).