The chief minister, Lim Guan Eng, was quoted as saying the two had “backstabbed us when they abstained from voting against the motion”. He also questioned whether they could function effectively and professionally as directors “especially when I am chairperson”.
The two are Ong Chin Wen, assemblyman for Bukit Tengah, and Cheah Kah Peng, the member for Kebun Bunga. Ong has confirmed receiving the termination letter but declined further comment but Cheah has yet to comment about the matter, according to Malaysiakini.
The report quoted Lim as saying: “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? If this happens in any other company, your post will be immediately revoked”
Ong is PKR’s whip in the state assembly. He was removed as director of Penang Invest, the state investment promotion agency, and from Island Golf Properties Bhd, a subsidiary company of Penang Development Corporation.
Cheah was dropped as a director of the Penang Hill Corporation.
The boards of the three companies are chaired by the chief minister.
Lim was quoted as saying: “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?”
He said members of the state government had agreed not to support the reclamation motion, filed by Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad of Umno. One DAP member, Teh Yee Cheu, assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah voted to support the motion.
Lim said the PKR five had “later backstabbed us when they abstained from voting against the motion,” according to the report.
Land reclamation has been a controversial subject in Penang after it was revealed that the state government had plans to allow a massive 3,000 hectare reclamation off the south coast by developers involved in building a road tunnel across the North Channel to the mainland. The tunnel forms part of a RM28 billion transport master plan championed by Lim.
“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, according to Malaysiakini.
Ong has said the five “voted based on conscience”, while Cheah has said that elected representatives from PKR would continue to defend the public interest.
Three other assembly members, also from PKR, had also abstained: Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok), T Jayabalan (Batu Uban), and Norlela Ariffin (Penanti).
Lee is also a director of a state-owned company.
Lim was also asked why the termination of the directorships was carried out during the Chinese New Year period. He said the two men were informed in January. It was also raised and discussed by the state executive council. “It’s an administrative matter,” he said.
He said he did not have any problem with other PKR leaders such as Rashid Hasnon, who is one of two deputy chief ministers. After the state assembly vote, Lim had accused the PKR assemblymen of trying to stage a coup against Rashid.
He also had no problem with Sungai Bakap assemblyman Maktar Shapee, who is deputy speaker, or with Lee, the report said.