GEORGE TOWN, Nov 24 — The statement by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today arguing so much on a defeated motion in the Penang Legislative Assembly is his trademark of diverting an issue, said Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Teng Chang Yeow.

Teng said as a leader, Lim should admit that there is growing discontent over his leadership and administration.

“But he fails to demonstrate that he is a leader in facing adversity. His long statement today is clearly an argument about the scenario should the motion having gone through and not about his leadership failure,” he said in a statement here today.

Teng said when the motion was tabled, BN knew for sure the motion will be defeated as BN had only 10 assemblymen.

“It had to be tabled to highlight the concerns of the people. We did not expect a DAP assemblyman to vote for the motion and five PKR assemblymen opting to abstain.

“The chief minister should address this problem within his party and coalition instead of harping on the defeated motion which has no impact on the State. Would harping on this defeated motion solve the mutiny he is facing now?” he said.

Teng said the chief minister is facing a munity and not the motion which was approved by the Assembly and that BN will continue to expose his false assumption and misleading statements in days to come.

On the motion by Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) who had also called for all land reclamation projects in the state to be a subject of public debate, Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, in a statement today had said the projects were undertaken in accordance with existing laws and after consulting all stakeholders.

“As such the issue does not arise,” he said, adding that if the motion had failed due to the support of the lone DAP assemblyman and abstention of the five, that particular project could have been delayed resulting in the state government having to pay compensation to the tune of RM1 billion which could have bankrupted the state.

Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang had rejected the motion after 23 assemblymen voted against it, 10 supported and the PKR five abstained. PKR has 10 seats in the 40-seat State assembly.

Out of the other PKR assemblymen, two were not present while the others voted “Nay”.

Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) has since apologised. The five PKR assemblymen who abstained were Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah); Dr Norlela Ariffin (Penanti); Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk); Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga) and Dr T Jayabalan (Batu Uban).

The Barisan Nasional, which rules at the federal level, is the opposition in Penang. — Bernama