State PKR chairman Mansor Othman was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying that the party will not punish Norlela for her actions, including comments in the media following the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) raids on the factory and Phee’s office in Komtar.
The Nibong Tebal MP said whatever that was brought up by Norlela on the matter was done in her capacity as a state assembly representative.
He said she had the right to undertake her duty to act in the interest of residents in her constituency.
“We emphasise that the party in Penang is with the state government,” Mansor, the former deputy chief minister, was quoted as saying.
“We feel saddened by what has happened to Phee and view this act by MACC as selective persecution on the opposition,” he added last night.
On Friday, Phee, who is DAP assemblyman for Sungai Puyu, was detained after the MACC raided his office on the 53rd floor of Komtar.
His house in Butterworth and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council’s (MPSP) licensing department were also raided later.
The MACC had also led a multi-agency sting on the carbon filter processing factory in Sungai Lembu near Bukit Mertajam which was found to have allegedly flouted several federal regulations.
The Department of Environment found the factory did not have a proper air pollution control system. The factory was also allegedly operating illegally on agriculture land.
The Immigration Department and Inland Revenue Board also participated in the operation.
Norlela had said yesterday that she was pleased that action had finally been taken against the factory although she had raised the issue at the state assembly more than two years ago.
She said she was first told about neighbouring villagers’ concerns over the illegal factory in February 2015.
“I raised the matter at the state assembly but no action was taken by the authorities for two years,” The Star quoted her as saying.
Mansor was also quoted by Malaysiakini as saying that PKR had not called Norlela to give an explanation and had no plan to do so.
On Norlela’s remark that she was being treated like a criminal after being blamed for the arrest of a fellow opposition leader, he said: “That is merely her perception, her opinion”.