Penang BN wants Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to make a stand on Permatang Pasir assemblyman Salleh Man, following the decision by PAS Permatang Pauh to sever ties with him on Sunday.

The Umno assemblymen have called on Penang legislative assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang to made a decision about the Permatang Pasir seat.

They also want PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to decide if Salleh is still a PAS member.

“Please clarify and do not prolong the issue because we are also confused.

“Is Salleh with PAS or PAN (Parti Amanah Negara)?” asked Umno Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad, at a press conference at the opposition’s office in the state assembly building today.

Farid said the latest development in Permatang Pauh showed that Salleh no longer has the support of his party.

He added that Salleh may have won his seat under Pakatan Rakyat but the coalition no longer exist and has been replaced by Pakatan Harapan, which comprises DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara, minus PAS.

“This morning, during the question-and-answer session in the state assembly, Salleh was questioning the state government on the performance of the village development and security committees.

“Salleh appeared as if he no longer supports the Penang government,” Farid said.

'Be consistent'

Salleh, who is also Penang Islamic Council president, had said he would continue to serve the Permatang Pasir people despite the Permatang Pauh division cutting ties with him.

He has shown no indication of quitting PAS, which cut ties with DAP over the party’s objection to the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

Farid said if Salleh no longer has ties with PAS, the latter should decide whether to be independent, join Amanah or the opposition.

However, if Salleh has quit PAS, Farid propose that he also vacate his Permatang Pasir seat, which will pave a way for a by-election.

Permatang Pasir is a state seat under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, which is currently held by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“The state government needs to be consistent as it does not accept its MPs or assemblymen who jump party; it needs to walk the talk,” said state opposition leader Jahara Hamid.

“Although we opposed it, the state government proposed and passed the anti-hopping law to deal with their leaders who jump seat,” she added.

“Please show that you are a CAT (competent, accountable and transparent). You can’t divorce your wife and still stay with her in the same house,” Jahara said.