Malaysiakini - Penang UMNO backs Norlela, slams PKR for abandoning her (extracts):
 |
UMNO's Muhamad Farid Saad and Norlela Ariffin |
Penang Umno has expressed shock that PKR has distanced itself from its Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin after she thanked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for acting on an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam.
The action led to the arrest and five-day remand of state executive councillor for environment, welfare and caring society Phee Boon Poh, as well as the factory director and manager.
Umno Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhamad Farid Saad said PKR's attitude towards Norlela was "disappointing" as she merely wanted justice for her constituents who had to put up with the ill-effects from the 15-year-old factory.
"It is not right or fair for her to be sidelined just because she thanked MACC for their action on an issue she has raised since 2015," Farid said in a statement today.
"PKR, a party that says it fights for all, should support Norlela in her struggle and not condemn her or ostracise her for doing the right thing to defend the well-being of her people," he added.
Farid was responding to state PKR chief Mansor Othman, who said the party stood with the Penang government on this matter.
![]()
The action led to the arrest and five-day remand of state executive councillor for environment, welfare and caring society Phee Boon Poh, as well as the factory director and manager.
Umno Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhamad Farid Saad said PKR's attitude towards Norlela was "disappointing" as she merely wanted justice for her constituents who had to put up with the ill-effects from the 15-year-old factory.
"It is not right or fair for her to be sidelined just because she thanked MACC for their action on an issue she has raised since 2015," Farid said in a statement today.
"PKR, a party that says it fights for all, should support Norlela in her struggle and not condemn her or ostracise her for doing the right thing to defend the well-being of her people," he added.
Farid was responding to state PKR chief Mansor Othman, who said the party stood with the Penang government on this matter.
I have to give credit where credit is due, namely, to UMNO for being consistent in backing Norlela Ariffin.
The previous occasion was when Norlela (with 4 other PKR ADUN) abstained from an UMNO motion to stop what the Penang Pakatan government was (and would be) doing, to wit, reclaiming land from the sea.
As I penned in a previous post, abstaining in an UMNO motion to forestall what the Pakatan government has been doing is the same as voting against Pakatan or voting for UMNO.
Thanks to her report to MACC, Phee had the weekend dressed in MACC orange work-suit and free nasi curry.
Norlela seems to be unaware or forgetful she is a PKR ADUN, and thus, IMHO, would be better off in UMNO. Maybe her heart already is?