Local civil groups who oppose the proposed billion-ringgit Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr) project, are appalled that two MCA representatives would be punished for not voting against an opposition motion tabled in the people's favour at a recent state assembly meeting.

Coordinator of the central ad hoc No Porr committee Linda Lim said today the people were "shocked" that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had termed the action by the duo Tan Cheng Liang (Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (Datuk Keramat) as a 'serious breach of party discipline'.

The two representatives caused a furore in the ruling front when they abstained from voting against a motion by Law Heng Kiang (DAP-Batu Lanchang) to defer the RM1.02 billion project until the RM400 million Jelutong Expressway was completed.