Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin said BN should instead support the authorities’ effort to uphold the law, and in turn, create a law-abiding society.
He was responding to the state’s BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow, who claimed yesterday that the Penang government led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) has behaved like the mafia by coming down hard on its dissidents.
Teng’s statement came after the recent demolition of an toilet built illegally inside Kaffa Cafe at the Penang International Airport, which he said was retaliation for the owner’s criticisms of the state government.
“As the government, we have to enforce the law to make sure the public abides by the law,” Afif said to FMT.
“And I disagree with his statement. He was talking about an action taken by the local council, who has to follow a set of rules before acting.
“Most business people in Penang know if they have any problem at all, they can come and discuss with us. But if they refused to comply with the law, we have to take action against them.”
He said Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chairman, was acting like some other BN leaders who believe they are above the law.
As an example, Afif pointed to Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos who accused Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali of being vindictive by demolishing his five-year-old resort.
This, according to Jamal, was because the action was taken a day after his towel protest in front of the Selangor secretariat building.
“This is what I meant when I said they think they are above the law. Jamal’s resort, for example, has been operating illegally.
“But rather than politicising these issues, they should look at how we can better enforce the law, and create a society that abides by them.
“Everyone is subject to the law. When we act against them, they say we are behaving like a thug. But when they use the law against us, that’s okay.”
Penang DAP Vice-Chairman Zairil Khir Johari, when contacted, questioned why BN chose to attack the state government for enforcing the law.
He said the correct procedure was followed by the local council who had rejected the cafe owner’s application to build the extension.
“But the extension was built anyway, which makes it illegal, and then action was taken.
“Gerakan must be totally bankrupt of ideas if they are accusing the state government of acting like a mafia when the entire premise of mafia means it is illegal, cowboy justice.
“Would Teng also call the Japanese or Singaporean governments mafia for enforcing the law strictly?”
He said illegal toilets often have no proper sewage treatment, where human waste ends up in public drains.
“Is this what Gerakan wants by championing illegal structures?
“The laws are only good insofar as it benefits them. We are trying to uphold the law because there are obvious public benefits for doing so.”
Penang Second Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy echoed the same sentiment, and asked Gerakan to prove that the action taken against Kaffa cafe was actually related to the owner’s criticism against the state government.
“Don’t just talk. And if you know your structure is illegal, then don’t expect the government to close one eye and exempt you from the law.”