Penang PKR has thrown its support behind its Kebun Bunga lawmaker Cheah Kah Peng, who has been barred from managing the registration of flood victims.

Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman said the state government's move was inappropriate.

"It does not respect the democratic rights of the people of Kebun Bunga who voted for Cheah in the last national polls.

"As an elected representative who obtained the mandate of the people in Kebun Bunga, Cheah should not be barred from carrying out his duties and responsibilities," he told Malaysiakini.

Mansor, who is also former Penang deputy chief minister, said handing over the registration work to DAP's Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey appeared to be a move to marginalise PKR in the state government.

It is learnt that Mansor (photo), who disclosed that Cheah's removal from the registration exercise was not discussed with PKR, is planning to meet Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over the issue today.

He also rejected Lim's excuse of an internal procedure change as “naive and unacceptable.”

"PKR feels that after the disaster, the most important thing to do now is to consolidate our efforts and arrange our strategies so that the people can feel that we are a government that listens and understands the heartbeat of the people," he added.

Cheah vows to continue helping

On Nov 20, Cheah was notified that he would not be involved in the registration process via an email from state secretary Farizan Darus. No reason was stated.

However, Lim later said it was due to an "internal procedural change".

Cheah, who accused the state authorities of punishing his constituents, vowed to continue helping those who required help with the registration process.

The PKR representative also refused to comment on whether he was being penalised for questioning the state on a bill to allow the 130-year-old Penang Botanic Gardens to be corporatised.

“Interesting question. I would be very interested to know the answer," he had replied when quizzed on this during a press conference yesterday.

Cheah was one of the "PKR 5" who abstained from voting against the Umno motion on land reclamation, resulting in Lim describing them as "saboteurs".

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, who is also the chief minister's special officer, declined to comment on Cheah's removal.