Penang Umno has hit out at the state government’s move to appoint coordinators for constituencies won by BN.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid said the appointments are “political” as BN assemblypersons have provided services in their constituencies for years.

“They said it is to (provide) service (to) the people and we wonder if they have any other reason for hiring the coordinators,” she said.

NONE Jahara ( right ) said the BN representatives are willing to cooperate with the state government when helping the rakyat, refuting Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s claim that they have refused to help his administration.

She said the assemblypersons have been doing the  registration for the state’s annual cash award for senior citizens and single mothers.

“We do it because they do not come to our areas to do the registration,” Jahara alleged.

She said the opposition will not challenge the state on this issue as it has the right to hire the coordinators.

“However, we want the state government to rethink if it is doing the right thing. If the reason is just to (provide) services, then it is unnecessary spending,” she added.

“There are civil servants, village development and security committee members and district officers to help the people as well."

Yesterday, Lim issued appointment letters to 10 coordinators.

Their duties include providing service and welfare to the people, he said, as the BN assemblypersons do not cooperate with his administration.

He added that the state has offered the BN representatives posts in state committees but they have rejected them.

‘Our job is to monitor’

On why BN leaders are rejecting the state’s invitation to participate in the state committees, Jahara said: “It is their work, our job is to monitor.”

“If we are in the committees, we cannot work well as the opposition. We cannot speak and it is a ploy to cover our mouth.

“We also cannot speak in the House if we are part of the committees, we do not want to fall into their games."

Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin said the BN has governed the state in the past and the DAP was in the opposition then.

“We, too, invited them to be on state committees but they did not cooperate at that time,” said Roslan.

“So why are they bringing up the issue now?”

Related stories

Penang Umno: Governor sounded just like the CM

Dropped PKR councillors linked to 'tokong' controversy

Penang Gerakan figures out opposition role

Earthquake jolts northern Sumatra, tremors in Penang