PENANG Pakatan Harapan wants two Bersatu assemblymen and one from PKR to vacate their seats for supporting their Perikatan Nasional federal government.

Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow said this is what Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim and Bertam assemblyman Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq, both from Bersatu, as well as PKR’s Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, should do in accordance with the state constitution.

“Section 14A of the Penang state constitution says that any assemblyman who ceases to be a member of his party shall for any reason vacate his seat.

“The state government will present a motion for them to vacate their seats at the state assembly session next month,” Chow, who is also Penang chief minister, said at a press conference in George Town today.

The state constitution was amended in 2012 to ensure the voters’ mandate is protected against party hopping.

Zolkifly and Khaliq had in early March declared their support for the state PH government even though their party had left the coalition, leading to the federal government’s ouster and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin becoming the prime minister.

Five days ago, however, they did an about-turn and said they were supporting PN instead.

Their change of heart came about after they were granted positions in government-linked agencies as Muhyiddin moves to solidify his control over his party through the Registrar of Societies.

Khaliq was recently appointed chairman of the Penang Regional Development Authority which is under the Rural Development Ministry. Zolkifly was appointed to the board of advisers of Mara’s investment arm, Mara Corp Sdn Bhd.

Dr Afif was suspended from PKR in early May for his role in the conspiracy to topple the PH federal government.

Chow said in the case of Zolkifly and Khaliq, it was clear that their party Bersatu was no longer with PH.

“Bersatu had decided to leave PH while the state government is under PH.

“So obviously Bersatu is no longer with PH.

With the opposition holding only six of the 40 seats in Penang, PH is in no danger of losing the majority in the state  legislative assembly

PKR reps will take over the three state seats to be vacated. Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik will manage Teluk Bahang; Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Takiyuddin Abdul Rahaman, Bertam; and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Seberang Jaya. – May 28, 2020.