KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no effective check and balance in the Penang state assembly after a motion was approved to vacate four opposition assemblymen from their seats, says Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (pic).
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member expressed regret over the passing of the motion in the state assembly.
"This is something that is regretful and a dark history in Penang where the DAP-Umno led-state government tries to get rid of any form of check and balance so they will be able make any decision before the upcoming state election," he told reporters at Parliament's media centre today (March 6).
An acrimonious debate took place in the Penang state assembly earlier to vacate the seats of the four - Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh), Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Telok Bahang).
Wan Saiful said that such a move to vacate the seats of four Perikatan Nasional assembly would be punished by the voters.
"The state government is just doing what they can including (to take action) through the state assembly.
"They should just wait until the upcoming state election which is expected to be held soon," said Wan Saiful, who is also the Tasek Gelugor MP.
Meanwhile, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the party was of the view that the move was an abuse of power and smacked of political motive.
This is especially so in the case of Khaliq and Zolkifly, who had done nothing to deserve such an outcome.
"They had never quit their posts or sacked by the party, or join another party. They have remained Bersatu members until now," he said in a statement.
