Penanti representative Norlela Ariffin said she got to know Phee, who is Sungai Puyu assemblyman, after she became a state assemblywoman in the last general election.

Norlela said she had dealt a lot with Phee in the area of welfare, as her constituency has a high number of recipients.

“I have no trouble working with Phee. He is good. He does his work well. There is very little bureaucracy.

“When it comes to Phee, I am able to speak to him quite frankly on whatever issues I have,” she told FMT when asked to comment on her working relations with Phee.

Norlela became the target of threats, allegedly from DAP supporters, following the arrest of Phee in relation to an illegal carbon filter processing factory in Sungai Lembu.

In a statement yesterday, Norlela had expressed hope that Phee would be given the space, treatment and justice to defend himself, as he had voluntarily offered full cooperation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

She also said that no one should be ill-treated in the investigation process.

Norlela further defended herself today, saying she was a mere messenger trying to help the people, and that she had no power when it came to acts like remanding individuals or demolishing factories.

“I am just a messenger. A social service worker. I am trying to help the people affected by raising the issue with the authorities and at the state assembly.

“I am just a messenger. You want to kill the messenger, but I do not have the power to take action against anyone,” she said.

Norlela said the way people had treated her was as though she had brought shame to the party.

“Some people said, pity YB Phee. He is already 60.

“They think I am being vindictive, when it is nothing of the sort.

“The way people have said things, it is as though I am being spiteful. It is very hurtful,” she said.

Norlela said she had also been on the receiving end of criticism, having posted the chronology of events relating to the illegal factory on her Facebook page.

She said she had posted the chronology as the Penang chief minister had specifically said that all representatives must post their activities on Facebook, so that people will know that they are doing their job.

She said this was also helpful as even if her computer goes missing or her phone crashes, she would still have her records on Facebook, which she called her diary.

“But now, people are criticising me for doing this, as the media have access to take the information there for their stories.

“Everything has backfired. Everything I posted on Facebook has been turned against me.”

But in spite of this, Norlela said she had no regrets becoming an assemblywoman.

“When I became a representative, I set very high standards for what a representative should be, and I try to live up to those standards.

“I do my best to resolve problems very quickly.

“I have no regrets, even when this one episode has happened, and it is a big thing,” she said.

Norlela said she had a soft spot for kampung people, in spite of her graduating from universities in the US and the UK.

Norlela, who grew up in a kampung in Kubang Semang, added that it was a rare chance for her to return from studying overseas, and to then help the villagers.

However, she said she did not intend to stand in the next election as she felt she had contributed enough in the past five years.

“I have done what I have always wanted. I do my own thing.

“I think I have done my share. Let other people contribute,” she said.

Norlela said she intends to go back to her family and do volunteer work as her health permits.

She is currently on hospitalisation leave after suffering a stroke. Doctors have advised her not to do anything too stressful.

Phee, 66, is being investigated for using his office or position for gratification under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.

Two other men involved in the case, a father and son aged 70 and 37, are the owners of the carbon filter factory which is alleged to have been operating illegally for more than 10 years.

If found guilty, Phee faces 20 years’ jail and a fine not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Phee’s arrest on Friday followed a multi-agency operation carried out last Thursday at the factory in Bukit Mertajam, which was found to have flouted many federal regulations.

The Department of Environment (DoE) found that the factory did not have a proper air pollution control system. The factory was also said to be operating illegally on agriculture land in Sungai Lembu.

MACC, the immigration department, the DoE and the Inland Revenue Board jointly conducted the operation.

Besides the factory, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council’s licensing department was raided by MACC as well.

MACC says it is investigating two letters allegedly written by Phee, asking that no action be taken against the illegal factory.