Penang PKR chief takes Guan Eng to task GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim

Penang PKR chief takes Guan Eng to task

GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim has taken Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to task for using the media to voice out his dissatisfaction towards the party and its adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Zahrain said as a partner in the ruling coalition in Penang, it was not proper for Lim to voice out his dissatisfaction in the media over the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as Deputy Chief Minister I and Penanti assemblyman.
He added that there were internal mechanisms through which the matter could be discussed.
“As a member of the pact, why can’t he discuss directly with Anwar on Fairus’ successor as DCM1 and Penanti assemblyman?” he told Bernama.
He said that the DCM1’s appointment and the issue pertaining to the Penanti seat were PKR’s internal affairs.
“It is true that as the Chief Minister he has the prerogative but at least give us the opportunity to determine what we want to do. He should have listened first to what we are going to suggest,” he said.
Zahrain was commenting on news reports that Lim was less than happy with the issue as he only knew about the matter in the media.
Zahrain said PKR could also cite numerous instances of decisions being made without the party being consulted.
“For instance, he had never consulted us on the appointment of Datuk Lee Kah Choon as the InvestPenang executive committee chairman,” he said.
He said the Penang PKR had to voice out their desire to be given a bigger role in the state administration. Only then were some of its leaders appointed to sit in the board of certain agencies.
Zahrain called on Lim to emulate Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who “never interfered in other parties’ affairs.”
On Mohammad Fairus’ resignation letter as the Penanti assemblyman, he said a copy was sent to the chief minister’s office on the same day Mohammad Fairus announced his resignation.
On that day, he said, Lim was in Singapore and it would be up to his officers to alert him about the matter as PKR’s job would have already been done by sending the letter to Lim’s office.
He said that Anwar had also tried to contact the chief minister but could not reach him. --

source : Bernama