Guan Eng gone overboard in sacking?
Why did the PKR five not voice their disagreements in the pre-council meeting? Why launch a surprise attack?
Soo Wern Jun, The Heat Malaysia
The sacking of two Penang PKR assemblypersons Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah) and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga) has raised concerns of whether Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has gone overboard.
Critics fear the Penang administration is turning into a dictatorship, derailing the democracy that the Opposition speaks frequently of upholding.
Penang Institute board member Steven Sim says it is unfair to judge the Penang State administration based only on this incident.
“People are asking if Guan Eng is becoming like the Umno president where he will only keep the ‘yes men’. No, it isn’t like that. If he only wants ‘yes men’ he would have sacked so many others,” says Sim.
“If anything, the Penang administration engages dissenting voices. If you look at Dr Norela Ariffin’s case, her criticisms of the Penang state government has caused so much negativity but she isn’t removed. Why?
“Another example is Dr Lim Mah Hui of the Penang Institute. He is known as being very critical of the Penang state government, has anything be done to him?”
Could the conscience vote be exercised in this case?
The DAP Bukit Mertajam MP says appealing to the conscience vote may sound democratic, but it may not be the best option in this situation on two grounds.
Conscience vote is not arbitrarily applied, and there is no ground for exercising such a vote in this situation.
“Secondly, even if it is a conscience vote, the element of surprise against a partner in the team gives the impression of mala fide,” he says.
Sim explains that in the West these usually means issues such as religious, moral or ethical issues rather than about administrative or financial ones.
Matters such as abortion, homosexual law reforms, euthanasia and legality of prostitution are often subject to conscience votes.
“Noting the points on procedures in approving reclamation work, it is arguable that it is administrative rather than moral-related issue,” says Sim.
