Penang State Assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang (PKR-Bukit Tambun) today reminded elected representatives and state executive councillors to be open to criticisms during House proceedings.

Law issued the reminder as state opposition leader Jahara Hamid was interjected by DAP's RSN Rayer, when she was debating during the first meeting of the fifth state assembly sitting, which lasts until Friday.

Jahara had touched on the subject of the people's confidence in the state government when its chief minister (Lim Guan Eng) refuses to vacate his position after being charged with a criminal offence in court.

To this, Rayer interjected, saying Jahara's remarks were "subjudice", as the case against the CM is still ongoing in court, and that it questioned the Lim's integrity.

However, Law stopped Rayer, saying "I will be the one to decide what is subjudice or not."

Met later, Law said that Jahara did not mention names, and her speech did not also touch on the details of the two graft charges against Lim at the Penang High Court.

Lim's appeal to challenge Section 62 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act has been postponed. 

Jahara reiterated her remarks later, albeit without mentioning names.

“When a chief minister is charged on any crimes in court, and as long as the charge is not settled by trial based on the existing legal processes, his good name or his reputation will be tarnished and the public’s faith in high level officials will diminished.

“A chief minister is entrusted with much power and respect, and he is beholden to the people for all his actions.

“It is based on this responsibility, if a leader’s integrity is questioned, or doubted when he is charged in court for any criminal offence, to protect his good name and the confidence of the people, he should retreat by quitting or taking leave, to allow investigations to go on,” Jahara added.

Such move would ensure that officers under Lim's watch will not be "pressured, coerced or intimidated" on the witness stand, she claimed.

“If a chief minister does not have the integrity to let go his post or vacate his seat by taking leave off work, how would the people have the confidence that he would not exploit his position and power to influence witnesses or the court decision?”.

Jahara's motion at the state assembly to seek Lim's resignation was recently rejected by the speaker, who cited there is already an existing order for civil servants who are involved in such situations.