BARISAN Nasional backbenchers said today Penang legislative assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang had used the wrong section in the state constitution to reject its motion to compel civil servants and administrators charged with criminal offence to go on leave.

Opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) said the speaker had referred to a section that provided for those already found guilty of the offences.

Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Teluk Bahang), who moved the rejected motion, said the motion was clear and straightforward, seeking those charged to go on leave.

“The speaker said there are existing rules concerning this for civil servants under the civil servants’ regulations on behaviour and disciplinary matters.

“But he is using the wrong regulation, if he cites clause 13 of the state law on assemblymen losing their qualifications if convicted of any offence that carries a jail term of a minimum one year and fine no less that RM2,000.

“We are talking about reps facing charges for the sake of transparency and integrity,” he told a press conference at the opposition leader’s room.

Jahara said BN also wants the house to respect freedom of speech.

Farid and Jahara also questioned whether the rejection of the motion was “to protect someone”. 

BN had proposed two separate motions seeking to compel the chief minister, civil servants and administrators to go on leave if they are charged with criminal offences.

The motions had put Pakatan Harapan, namely Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in an awkward position as he was charged with corruption last June.

He was charged with rezoning of two plots of agricultural land in Balik Pulau to residential use, which was said to benefit the plots’ owner Magnificent Emblem.

He faces a second charge over his purchase of a bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn for RM2.8 million, which was allegedly below the market price of RM4.27 million on July 28, last year from businesswoman Phang Li Koon. – May 22, 2017.