As a result, Dr Norlela Ariffin, who is the state assemblywoman for Penanti, has decided to reconsider defending her seat in the next general election, Star reported.
“I don’t think I will be contesting in the next general election as I’m not comfortable here anymore (after exposing the illegal factory).
“They don’t understand that I only wanted the factory to comply with the regulations. I just wanted to fix the problem,” she was quoted as saying by the daily.
Last Friday, Phee, who is Sg Puyu assemblyman, and two men were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). They were then remanded for five days on Saturday but that order was revoked by the High Court yesterday.
Phee, 66, is being investigated for using his office or position for gratification under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009. The other two men, a father and son aged 70 and 37, respectively, 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, a fine not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Norlela believes the “treatment” she has received in recent days was uncalled for as she was only championing the rights of villagers in the Sungai Lembu area affected by the factory.
“After Phee’s arrest, I received nasty messages, as if I were the culprit. It was nothing personal.
“My job has taken a toll on my health and doctors have advised me to take a break,” she told the daily. Norlela had suffered a stroke recently and is still on medical leave.
She admitted too that her statement of thanks to the MACC, which was reported by some media, was made at the behest of state PKR chairman Mansor Othman who had asked her to thank the anti-graft agency for taking action against the illegal factory.
“He asked me to make an official statement. I also wish to thank the other authorities, but it took them two years to take action,” she was quoted as saying by Star.
Norlela added, however, that she had nothing against DAP and was only doing her duty in representing her constituents.
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 the factory did not have a proper air pollution control system. The factory was also allegedly operating illegally on agriculture land in Sungai Lembu.
The MACC, immigration department, the DoE and the Inland Revenue Board jointly conducted the operation. Besides the factory, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council’s licensing department, too, was raided by the MACC.
The MACC has said it was investigating two letters allegedly written by Phee, asking that no action be taken against the illegal factory.