CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has slammed four Opposition members from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) for boycotting the Engagement Session between the state executive councillors and the assemblymen at St Giles The Wembley Hotel today.
The state government has decided to hold the Engagement Session today and tomorrow to ensure check and balance in its administration following the suspension of the State Legislative Assembly after the proclamation of Emergency Ordinance in January.
The four who boycotted the Engagement Session were Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh) and Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam).
“Their reason they gave for the boycott was because their allocation of RM60,000 each was withdrawn by the state government. But they have betrayed the trust and confidence of the voters who chose them to contest under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition,” Chow told a press conference at the Engagement Session.
“At first, we had decided that since they are now in the Opposition, we would treat them as normal opposition members and gave them the allocations.
“Upon further consideration, we decided not to channel the allocations to them.
“The voters supported PH and made PH the state government. We decided the same amount (of allocation) be given to them through the Adun angkat (adopted assemblymen).
“So, the voters won’t suffer any loss. They still receive the same amount for the local development from funds disbursed through the district office.”
The four had followed their PPBM leaders to break away from PH. PPBM leaders had joined other parties to form Perikatan Nasional, causing the collapse of PH to wrest control of Putrajaya.
Chow said the four from PPBM were unlike the three Opposition members who were present at the Engagement Session today.
The three opposition members were state Opposition Leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Nor (Umno – Sungai Dua), Nor Hafizah Othman (Umno – Permatang Berangan) and Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PAS – Penaga).
“The difference between them is that the three who attended the session represented the Opposition areas from the (2018) election, but they still get the allocations,” Chow explained.
“But the other four Opposition members choose the easy way by boycotting.
“The Engagement Session will also put our state government agencies on the alert every time to respond to issues raised by our assemblymen.
“This is very needed and important even during this Covid-19 pandemic.”
Chow added that the four who boycotted were getting allocations from Perikatan Nasional (PN), which he believes were quite a large sum to continue developing their respective constituencies.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad & Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Alissala Thian