PENANG opposition leader Jahara Hamid denied accusing the state government of getting flood victims to sign up as Pakatan Harapan party members to qualify for aid.

She said she never made the allegation against the state government after the administration announced a RM400 one-off payment for every household and business affected by the September 15 flash floods.

Jahara, who is retiring after her final term as Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman ends, was earlier questioned by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng about the allegation.

He challenged her to show proof today that the state was recruiting members for PH component parties using the flood relief aid as bait.

Jahara allegedly made the remarks in a September 20 Utusan Malaysia story, which reported that it was understood that those who wanted the aid must be registered PH party members.

Jahara said she never made the remark, explaining that it was a comment added by the newspaper.

“The CM has prejudice against everything we (Barisan Nasional politicians) say. In the article, I had asked the state to explain how the relief aid will be distributed to the flood victims.

“I said ‘don’t let it be that people will have to join the parties’. I never said they were doing that. I meant don’t make it so.

“I had just wanted to say that the procedures involved should not be tedious for the people,” Jahara said at a press conference at the state legislative assembly building.

When asked to respond to Jahara’s reply, Lim (DAP-Air Putih) said she had earlier admitted making the remark in the state legislative assembly sitting this morning during their exchange over the matter.

“Then why did she admit it earlier?” Lim said.

He said it is likely that Jahara could not prove her allegations and took the opportunity to leave the house earlier this evening.

He was referring to the walkout staged by the 10 opposition lawmakers from BN after a PH lawmaker “hijacked” Dr Muhamad Farid Saad’s (BN-Pulau Betong) motion urging the administration to stop all developments on hillslopes.

The Penang legislative assembly adjourned sine die. – November 14, 2017.