Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said PKR should reflect on its actions when it sacked Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor MB for defying party orders after agreeing to carry out them out.

He said the two PKR assemblypersons Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah) and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga), who were sacked from their government-linked company (GLC) directorships, had committed the same offence.

“So why are they not reprimanded like Khalid? Why is PKR now defending the duo and wants me to reinstate them?” Lim said at a press conference to unveil the state’s plan for a new public space called Gurney Wharf along Gurney Drive in George Town today.

“Why are the ones who are wrong considered correct but those who are right are considered wrong? Is this the new ethical dimension? Just because you like me, everything is okay but when you don't like me, it is not okay,” Lim said.

He reminded PKR that DAP had supported the party in its move to sack Khalid, and urged it to be consistent in its actions.

“The same should apply. Does it mean just because you do not like someone, you agree to remove him, but if you like someone, you would not do it?” Lim asked.

Penang PKR Youth information chief Haidhar Auni Dzolkapli had criticised Lim for being "immature, autocratic and unfair” in sacking the duo, and Lim was asked to comment on this.

Haidhar backed Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali’s intervention in the matter - which Lim was not too happy about - saying that the former wanted to preserve unity in Pakatan Harapan where both parties are allies.

"We should remember that our enemy is Umno-BN and we should avoid fighting among ourselves. It is better to focus on the problems of the people rather than to play politics," he had said in a statement.

Azmin had said PKR did not agree to the duo being terminated from their posts and that PKR had sent a letter to Lim to protest his action.

Lim had expressed surprise over Azmin's "interfering" in his administration, but said he would entertain the letter out of courtesy and respect for the menteri besar.

'Double standards'

Lim was also asked if he was practising double standard by reprimanding only two out of five PKR representatives who had abstained from voting against the Umno motion.

He explained that only two out of the three PKR assemblypersons were sacked from their GLC directorship because they were perceived to be behind the move to abstain from voting a motion on reclamation by Umno.

Lim said three others - T Jayabalan (Batu Uban), Norlela Ariffin (Penanti) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) - were spared because they were merely obeying orders.

“I don’t want to take unnecessary action on the other three as the duo are seen as the main men behind that move,” Lim said.

“They are the prominent ones. Even after they had abstained from voting against the Umno motion, they tried to justify their actions,” Lim added.

Ong had said the five abstained from voting based on their “conscience” while Cheah had commented that the party would continue to defend public interests.

Lim was peeved that the duo had agreed to vote against the Umno motion in a pre-council meeting, but later changed their tune in the state legislative assembly proceedings in November when the motion was filed.

Lim reiterated that the duo had not informed him of their change of heart, and described them as “backstabbers” who would not be accepted in any organisation.

Asked if his actions would jeopardise Pakatan Harapan’s image, he said it was normal to have differences between allies.

“But we need to be consistent when addressing these issues. The problem with the duo was not because of their different views but that they had backstabbed the state government,” he added.

“They did not even dare to speak up against reclamation in the state assembly but went on to abstain from voting. Why didn’t they object to it in the first place?” Lim asked.