GEORGE TOWN: PKR assemblyman who was excluded from handling flood aid registration by the DAP-led state government refused to be drawn into squabbles following the latest justification revealed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on the matter.
The Kebun Bunga representative Cheah Kah Peng, instead, wanted to keep his focus on helping the people in his constituency.
"Whilst busy helping flood victims to reconstruct their community damaged by recurring floods, coupled with problems of Penang Hill landslides that struck the funicular train, Tanjung Bungah construction site (landslide) which killed 11 lives, sunken hill development, flood in Farlim, Paya Terubong, Kebun Bunga, and Sungai Pinang, I would hardly be able to speculate what certain politician was attempting to divert people's attention from.
"Let us all focus and solve the flood and landslide problems, let us not distract Penangites from the real issues. I have no comment and no time for petty squabbles from small minded people," he said in a statement today.
On Nov 20, Cheah received an email from State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, informing him that he had been exempted from handling the RM700 flood aid registration to victims at his constituency, affected by the Nov 4 major floods.
The decision was made after a meeting between Lim and Farizan.
Last Thursday, Lim told newsmen that he and Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey would take over the duties for Kebun Bungah constituency.
Lim had said that the move was part of "internal procedural changes” to ensure that the aid could be distributed effectively to all victims and declined to elaborate further.
Lim told a news portal that Cheah was excluded due to his poor performance in handling matters in his constituency.
He recently visited the areas in Kebun Bunga constituency which was affected badly by floods and there was strong opposition to the PKR rep.
He said that the residents expressed their dissatisfaction and even uttered profanities against Cheah but praised Yap for helping them.
Previously state PKR chairman Datuk Mansor Othman lashed out at the state government for excluding Cheah from the registration.
Mansor described the move as undemocratic and insisted that Cheah, as the rightful elected representative, should handle the matter.
He also suggested a meeting with Lim but it was believed that no such event had taken place to date.
A 17-hour heavy downpour accompanied by freak storm on Nov 4 wrecked havoc and inundated many areas in the state.
Penang government announced a one-off RM700 aid for households affected by the floods.