PKR rep: CM moving public attention from disaster issues

GEORGE TOWN: Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng has hinted that the Penang Chief Minister is only hitting out at him to divert public attention from floods and landslides.

Penangites, said Cheah of PKR, should not be distracted from the real issues.

“I would hardly be able to speculate on what a certain politician is trying to divert the people’s attention from.

“Let us all focus on resolving flood and landslide problems,” he said in a text message here yesterday.

Cheah, who has come under attack from Lim Guan Eng, said among the issues were the landslides that struck the funicular train track as well as the construction site in Tanjung Bunga which killed nine people, sunken hill development and floods in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, Kebun Bunga and Sungai Pinang.

On Thursday, Lim was quoted by an online news portal as saying that Cheah was barred from helping to register flood victims for aid in Kebun Bunga due to his poor performance and not because of his dissenting views.

He also claimed that Cheah had performed badly during the floods on Sept 15 and Oct 4 and 5 and that there was strong opposition against the assemblyman in his own constituency.

The registration is now being carried out by Lim and Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey.

“The residents were dissatisfied and even uttered four letter words while they praised Yap for helping them,” Lim reportedly said.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution said state party chairman Datuk Mansor Othman would meet Lim to sort out the issue.

“He told me that Lim would be meeting him to find a way to resolve the issue. The best way to solve this issue is to sit and talk it out,” he said.

Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, who had also come under criticism for being outspoken about issues in her seat, said Cheah should not be penalised from serving his constituency.

“Every assemblyman gets ‘bouquets’ or ‘brickbats’ now and then from constituents as it’s part and parcel of our job.

“Many assemblymen were criticised, so why aren’t they penalised?”