Foto: Free Malaysia Today
BUKIT MERTAJAM: After being branded by some as the “culprit”
behind the arrest of Penang exco member Phee Boon Poh, Penanti assemblywoman Dr
Norlela Ariffin is planning to quit.
behind the arrest of Penang exco member Phee Boon Poh, Penanti assemblywoman Dr
Norlela Ariffin is planning to quit.
“I don’t think I will be contesting in the next general
election as I’m not comfortable here anymore (after exposing the illegal
factory).
election as I’m not comfortable here anymore (after exposing the illegal
factory).
“They don’t understand that I only wanted the factory to
comply with the regulations. I just wanted to fix the problem,” she told The
Star yesterday.
comply with the regulations. I just wanted to fix the problem,” she told The
Star yesterday.
It was reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) is investigating two letters, which appear to have originated
from Phee, asking that no action be taken against the illegal factory in Sungai
Lembu here.
Commission (MACC) is investigating two letters, which appear to have originated
from Phee, asking that no action be taken against the illegal factory in Sungai
Lembu here.
The letters, written in 2015 and last year, directed the
Seberang Prai Municipal Council not to shut down the carbon filter-processing
factory, which has been operating illegally for the past 10 years.
Seberang Prai Municipal Council not to shut down the carbon filter-processing
factory, which has been operating illegally for the past 10 years.
Phee, factory director Edmund Gan Eu Leong, 37, and his
father Gan Buck Hee, 70, were released yesterday after their lawyers successfully
applied to the High Court to quash the remand order.
father Gan Buck Hee, 70, were released yesterday after their lawyers successfully
applied to the High Court to quash the remand order.
Dr Norlela said the treatment she got was uncalled for
because she was only championing villagers’ rights.
because she was only championing villagers’ rights.
“After Phee’s arrest, I received nasty messages – as if I
were the culprit. It was nothing personal,” said the PKR assemblywoman, who is
on medical leave after suffering a stroke recently.
were the culprit. It was nothing personal,” said the PKR assemblywoman, who is
on medical leave after suffering a stroke recently.
“My job has taken a toll on my health and doctors have
advised me to take a break.”
advised me to take a break.”
Dr Norlela also added that it was state PKR chairman Datuk
Mansor Othman who had asked her to thank the MACC for taking action against the
illegal factory.
Mansor Othman who had asked her to thank the MACC for taking action against the
illegal factory.
“He asked me to make an official statement. I also wish to
thank the other authorities, but it took them two years to take action,” she
said.
thank the other authorities, but it took them two years to take action,” she
said.
Dr Norlela said she had nothing against DAP and was only
doing her duty – representing her constituents.
doing her duty – representing her constituents.
“I will cooperate with the MACC and tell the truth if they
call me up,” she said.
call me up,” she said.
Mansor, when contacted, said Dr Norlela had not informed the
party of her intention not to contest in the next election.
party of her intention not to contest in the next election.
“I assume she made those comments after recent
developments,” he said.
developments,” he said.
Dr Norlela was among the assemblymen, dubbed the “PKR Five”,
who abstained from voting in a land reclamation motion tabled by Umno at the
state assembly sitting in November 2015.
who abstained from voting in a land reclamation motion tabled by Umno at the
state assembly sitting in November 2015.
The others were Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Cheah Kah Peng
(Kebun Bungah), Dr T. Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk).
(Kebun Bungah), Dr T. Jayabalan (Batu Uban) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk).
In Petaling Jaya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave his backing
to the MACC probe over the factory.
to the MACC probe over the factory.
Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan de facto leader, also welcomed
the stern action taken by the MACC in the matters of Felda Global Ventures
Holdings Bhd and the Sabah Water Department.
the stern action taken by the MACC in the matters of Felda Global Ventures
Holdings Bhd and the Sabah Water Department.
“As such, in the case of the illegal factory and resultant
pollution being protested by residents in Sungai Lembu, Penang, the MACC’s
action was reasonable,” he said in a statement yesterday.
pollution being protested by residents in Sungai Lembu, Penang, the MACC’s
action was reasonable,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Anwar, however, expressed concern that the move to obtain
information and remand Phee was “excessive”. – The Star
information and remand Phee was “excessive”. – The Star
