Penang legislative assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang is under fire for going back on his promise not to accept a party post after his elevation to speaker.

Law, former Penang PKR deputy chief, gave up his post after he was appointed as state assembly speaker following the May 2013 general election.

Law replaced speaker Abdul Halim Hussein, who is PKR's vice-chairman.

Gerakan's Batu Kawan division chief Lai Chew Hock ( left ) said today that Law had vowed not to hold any party position after he became state assembly speaker

"But now he continues to be the deputy chief of Penang PKR, showing that he failed to keep his own word. Now, his impartiality in chairing the state assembly is questionable," said Lai.

"As Penang speaker, Law must keep his own promise and withdraw from accepting the party appointment," Lai added.

Records show that Law - when appointed as speaker - had said he would decline any party position to preserve the independence and professionalism of the Penang legislative assembly.

'Positive feedback'

Lai said when PKR Penang chief Mansor Othman 'quietly' appointed Law as his deputy last month, the latter failed to reject the offer.

He pointed out there were several other assemblypersons from PKR whom Mansor could have appointed instead of Law.

"But it seems nobody can hold the deputy's post except Law and this shows that talent has withered in PKR," said Lai.

In an immediate reaction, Law ( right ) agreed that a state legislative speaker needed to be 'neutral' when presiding over the assembly.

"And for the past two years, lawmakers and assemblypersons, especially from the opposition, have given a very positive feedback pertaining to my neutrality," he said when contacted.

"Unless I totally give up my party membership, I will contine to be referred to as the PKR or Pakatan Rakyat speaker," said Law who is also Bukit Tambun assemblyperson.

Law said that even if he held no post in the party, there were people who would still claim he was a 'PKR speaker'.

'Ready to be replaced'

He opined the only way to handle lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties was by maintaining his neutrality.

"This (PKR deputy chief's post) is an appointed position. When the state PKR chairman thinks that I am not suitable for the job or when he has better candidates, I am ready to be replaced anytime," Law added.

He pointed out he has already given way to other party leaders and had refrained from running for the PKR Batu Kawan division chief's post for the last years.

"Some party members have also criticised me for ignoring the party after I was elected as an assemblyperson and appointed as speaker, " he lamented.

Law was political secretary to party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in 1999, before winning his Bukit Tambun state seat.

"When I look back both on my track record and feedback provided by the lawmakers, they reflect my neutrality when presiding over the state assembly meetings," he reiterated.