This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 22, 2016.

SHAH ALAM: PKR will defend two of its Penang assemblymen who were recently sacked from their positions in state-linked companies after they abstained from voting on a land reclamation motion, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said yesterday.

He said the party’s leadership reached a consensus to support Bukit Tengah representative Ong Chin Wen, and Kebun Bunga Cheah Kah Peng.

“We stand by them for playing their part as responsible assemblymen to bring the people’s voice to the government and to provide check-and-balance.

“PKR’s central political bureau reached a decision two weeks ago to send an official letter to the state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to express our stand on this matter.

“We are also urging the state government to reconsider this decision as the assemblymen were only using the platform to provide their opinions on a subject of interest,” he told reporters at PKR Bukit Lanjan’s 2016 Chinese New Year open house.

Mohamed Azmin said PKR is against any unwarranted decisions taken against their assemblymen.

“I believe that the assemblymen were not at fault and they did not slander the state government inappropriately. If they were, we would be against it.

“In fact, their bravery and steadfastness in standing up for what they believe in should be celebrated instead of being punished with something as drastic as removal from their posts in government-linked companies (GLCs).

“We urge the state government to be more tolerant of this matter and allow for harmonious dialogue to continue in the state assembly,” he said.

Ong and Cheah were among five PKR assemblymen who abstained from voting in the motion tabled by Umno at the state assembly last November to halt land reclamation projects in Penang.

Guan Eng described their abstinence as a betrayal and called the duo “backstabbers”. He also questioned their ability to be effective directors of companies he also chaired.

“When you have clearly taken a decision and later reneged on it, what confidence would I have that you would not do that again to me? If this happens in any other company, your post will be immediately revoked,” Guan Eng reportedly said.

Ong who is also PKR’s whip in the state assembly, reportedly confirmed his termination from his posts as director of Penang Invest, the state investment promotion agency, and Island Golf Properties Bhd, a subsidiary company of Penang Development Corp.

Cheah was dropped as director of Penang Hill Corp. — The Malaysian Insider