Guan Eng gagged on Fairus issue

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was today told to keep a lid over his unhappiness with the situation surrounding Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin's resignation as Penanti state representative.

"On behalf of PKR, I ask him not to raise this matter through the media," said PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali in a statement today.

He added that any continued disagreement over the matter would only benefit Barisan Nasional.

He also said that PKR leader and Pakatan Rakyat's head Anwar Ibrahim managed to speak to Lim today to clarify any outstanding matters.

"I urge all Pakatan leaders and members to work together to ensure a big victory in the Penanti by-election," he said.

He was responding to Lim's remarks which were widely reported today that he was unhappy with the way Mohammad Fairus' resignation was handled.

"As far as I am concerned, I knew only when the press contacted me. I am not happy with how everything has unfolded but if there is a vacancy, there must be a by-election.

"The whole (by-election) operation is planned by Anwar Ibrahim. I don't know what is happening and neither do the PKR members themselves, so you have to ask Anwar," he was reported to have said in the Star today.

Lim was also equally bitter when asked if PKR had failed to show respect and courtesy to him by not informing of Fairus' resignation first.

"We (DAP) have shown a genuine spirit of camaraderie and co-operation but whether or not it has been reciprocated (by PKR), you have to ask Anwar."

Mohammad Fairus stepped down as the Penanti state representative last Thursday after months of speculation that he would be relinquishing all his state posts.

He had been blighted with allegations of under-performance and corruption and was forced to step down as deputy chief minister (1) and as state exco member. He was also replaced by PKR from the party's state leadership.

Resignation was his choice

His resignation as the Penanti by-election has paved the way for a by-election but Barisan Nasional has indicated that it would not contest in the by-election if it was agreeable to everyone in the coalition.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told reporters last Friday that by-elections called for by the resignations of elected representatives were a waste of money and resources. He also said that BN will not dance to the opposition's tune by fielding a candidate.

Penanti is a state constituency under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, a PKR stronghold held by Anwar. The Opposition Leader had welcomed the BN's decision not to contest.

Syed Husin said today that it was up to Umno if it did not want to contest in the by-election.

"Maybe the prime minister and his party are worried of a heavy defeat," he said.

He also asked why Najib was only raising the issue of wasting public funds when they have been doing it all along.

Syed Husin also said that there was no mischief behind Mohammad Fairus' resignation as the Penanti state assemblyperson.

"It was his own decision which he made early on April 16 after a long meeting with Anwar on the previous night.

"The Penang assembly speaker has submitted Mohammad Fairus' resignation letter to the Election Commission and we hope the EC will act professionally in accordance to the laws in holding the by-election," he said.

I am not power crazy

Meanwhile, Lim talking to reporters later in the day defended his decision to leave it to Anwar to name the party nominee for the vacant deputy chief minister post, saying that it was done on the spirit of cooperation, consultation and friendship of Pakatan.

"Since the DCM1 position is a PKR slot in Penang Pakatan coalition government, it's only proper and correct for me to give Anwar the right to recommend the person to fill up the vacant post.

"That does not mean that I am a chief minister without power. It shows that I am not power crazy by denying others their rights," he said.

Lim was responding to various quarters who had criticised him for being subservient to Anwar on issues pertaining to state administration.