PKR elected representatives will continue to defend public interest no matter how they were challenged, says Penang assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng.

Cheah made the remark at the PKR congress today when debating a resolution that the executive not interfere in any investigations relating to national interest.

"If this is a party that genuinely defends the rights of the people, then no matter how you challenge us, we will forever fight and fight and fight, until their rights are defended," he said passionately.

Though Cheah did not name Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, it was clear the Kebun Bunga assemblyperson was referring to the abstention by five PKR assemblypersons, including himself, on an Umno motion on land reclamation last week at the Penang state assembly.

Cheah said the five have been on the receiving end of all sorts of bad words.

Cheah also called out the names of his four colleagues in the state assembly - Penang party whip Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), T Jayabalan (Batu Uban), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) and Norlela Ariffin (Penanti) and asked them to stand up.

"We have taken a position to abstain from voting in the land reclamation motion (at Penang state legislative assembly last Friday).

"Do you agree that we were defending public interest?" he asked the floor to which those in the hall shouted 'Agree' in a boisterous response.

Motion rejected

Earlier, he said that Parliament had became a rubber stamp of the executive when what lawmakers should do is watch out for the interest of the people.

The Umno resolution had, among others, called for land reclamation projects to be suspended or not approved until detailed environmental impact assessment reports and public consultations were conducted and that the executive not interfere in such efforts.

The motion, which was rejected due to a lack of votes (at least 21 out of 40), was supported by DAP Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu.

It was filed by Umno Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad and supported by the nine Umno reps present.

Teh, who has apologised for his move, has quit his party post.

The Penang chief minister had strongly rejected the motion and strongly criticised Teh and the PKR reps for supporting it and abstaining from voting on it respectively.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said cancellation of the projects would cost Penang close to RM1 billion, resulting in bankruptcy which was Umno's aim.

He demanded that Umno, being part of the previous state government, apologise for the reclamation of 3,241 acres in contrast to Pakatan Harapan which only approved 60 acres.