PKR state communications director Ahmad Farid Md Arshad has defended Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, saying the five PKR assemblypersons should not have abstained on an Umno’s motion on sea reclamation at the recently-concluded Penang state legislative assembly.

Ahmad Farid also supported the decision by Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon (PKR-Pantai Jerejak), state executive councillors Abdul Malik Kassim (PKR-Batu Maung) and Dr Afif Bahardin (PKR-Seberang Jaya) to vote against the Umno motion.

“The state assemblypersons should have rejected Umno’s motion, they ought to be with the state government in the interest of the people,” Farid said in an event in Bagan today.

“In whatever issue concerning Penang, there should be a consensus among us as we have the same mandate to govern the state as Pakatan Harapan.

“We must not be confused by Umno, which is only waiting for time and space to create havoc in the state administration,” he said.

Accompanying him was Lim who is Bagan MP and DAP secretary-general.

Ahmad Farid was referring to the motion on sea reclamation filed by Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) who wanted the state to conduct a comprehensive study, have public consultations, and cancel new, unapproved projects which did not benefit the people.

Sinister plan

Lim rejected the motion as Umno representatives had refused to apologise for the previous BN government’s approval of 3,421 acres for reclamation, while the current administration has only approved 60.

He said the state was already complying with federal laws by providing for comprehensive studies and public consultation before project approvals.

He said Umno had a sinister plan to bankrupt Penang by calling for the cancellation of new reclamation projects, saying it would cost the state coffers some RM1 billion in compensation to private companies.

Other than the nine Umno representatives present in the House on Friday, this motion was supported by Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah), while the five PKR representatives abstained from voting, and 22 others voted "no".

The motion was rejected as it failed to obtain enough votes from at least 21 out of the 40 assemblypersons.

Teh, who is also DAP’s state organising secretary, eventually apologised for his "mistake" in supporting an Umno motion.

'Voted according to conscience'

PKR state whip Ong Chin Wen (PKR-Bukit Tengah) said the party voted according to conscience, taking into account the current political scenario.

Lim, however, accused Ong of allegedly planning a coup to capture the deputy chief minister’s post which is currently held by Rashid.

Ahmad Farid also backed Lim who said that the only leader the state government recognises from PKR Penang is Rashid, not Ong, who led the five from PKR to abstain from voting against the Umno proposal.

He said Penangites are confident in Pakatan and have allowed the coalition to govern the state for another term.

Because of the people’s huge mandate in the 2013 national polls, Ahmad Farid said the state government must be “stable and prioritise the people’s needs”.

On whether the five were instructed by the party to abstain from voting, he said they decided on their own.

He said party members do receive orders from the state PKR on matters concerning the state.

“We had a meeting prior to the incident but nothing about this was brought up. In any decision, we would usually opt for unity to maintain harmony and respect within the coalition,” he added.

On whether PKR would initiate any action against the five, Ahmad Farid said this would be left to the party leadership.

He said although PKR defacto leader Anwar Ibrhaim was in prison - serving a five-year jail term for a sodomy conviction - he was still monitoring the current political scenario and wished to see Pakatan continue to be united.

Apology demanded

Meanwhile, Lim was asked if he would tender an apology to PKR for saying in a statement yesterday that the five assemblypersons had caused a “mutiny” within the coalition.

The remark prompted state PKR Youth to issue a statement that demanded an apology from Lim as they felt slighted by his accusation that their party assemblypersons sided with Umno, for not voting against its motion.

The statement did not sign off with a name although the state PKR Youth wing had verified it authencity.

This did not sit well with Lim.

“Who is the state PKR Youth? Who signed the statement? It must be somebody. Do not ask me something which has no basis,” Lim replied when asked if he would apologise for his remark.

“At least the statement must carry a name or else it is unfair,” he added.