Comment - PKR5 acted on conscience or party orders?

GEORGE TOWN: Penang was shocked recently when six government lawmakers broke ranks by either voting for an opposition motion on land reclamation or abstained from voting at the state legislative assembly.
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu of the DAP has since apologised while the five PKR assemblymen who abstained are keeping a low profile in the meantime.
They, however, have been lauded for voting according to their conscience. Yet, other than Teh, who is famously known for his strong stand on environmental issues, conflicting versions emerged on whether the abstained vote was due to conscience or due to party orders.
Everybody says it is democratic when lawmakers vote according to their conscience, but how democratic can it be when when party orders are being followed?
Isn't voting following one's conscience and that of party orders are two different things?
If I am not mistaken, obedience and choosing freely are separate elements.
In obedience, there is no free will when the choice is to follow. When choosing freely, free will is allowed despite orders.
Yes, lawmakers should be allowed to vote based on their conscience, and legislatures and the political process should reflect that.
Respect then must be given to those who are bold enough to do so. Not to those who follow party orders but hide behind the excuse of conscience.
Doesn't this act make fools of the voters and the public? At least in voting along party lines, lawmakers are honest enough to show where their loyalty lies.
To claim otherwise, yet follow party orders is unfair on voters and clouds the legislative process.
Much ado has been voiced on how democracies must give voice to lawmakers. But has democracy been served when the line between party orders and conscience are blurred?
Is democracy part of the political process or is the political process part of democracy? The suggestion should be the latter as democracy is the bigger entity which allows for political processes that serve all.
Democracy cannot work if obedience is total, nor can it work under a cloud of suspicion. Is it then too much to ask from this humble voter for a clearer and cleaner expression of democracy?