PKR 5 in the clear, says Azmin

SERDANG: PKR has accepted the explanation of five of its assemblymen who abstained from voting in a motion by Barisan Nasional at the Penang state assembly to stop land reclamation in the state, said its deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.
He said the five told party leaders that they were merely acting in the interest of the people in a political bureau meeting yesterday.
"We trust the maturity of our elected reps to take the stand they think is most beneficial to the people, this is not a question of politics.
"Both Pakatan Rakyat and Pakatan Harapan reps will always act in the interest of the people," Azmin told a press conference after officiating the Selangor Investment Expo (SIE) at the Mines Convention Centre here.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had earlier slammed the five assemblymen for their actions, likening it to a mutiny.
Lim argued that the land reclamation projects were approved during the BN administration before the 12th General Election.
He said stopping the projects at this stage would result in the state government having to pay massive compensation which could potentially bankrupt the administration.
The motion to hold public hearings and suspend 3,241 acres of land reclamation projects was submitted by Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad, which caused a commotion in the house.
Teh Yee Cheu, the Tanjung Bungah assemblyman and sole DAP rep who supported the motion, has since resigned as Penang DAP organising secretary.