Press Statement by Wong Hon Wai, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Penang on 25-2-2016 at George Town, Penang.

 Press Statement by Wong Hon Wai, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Penang on 25-2-2016 at George Town, Penang.

I wish to respond to the allegations dated 24-2-2016 by Cheah Kah Peng, State Assemblyman of Kebun Bunga.

1.   The main operation of Penang Hill Corporation for instance multi-storey carpark, ticketing counter,train station and the track, scenic view platform, hawker center, hotel and restaurant are not under the state constituency of Kebun Bunga. There is a voting center on the peak of the hill which is under the state constituency of Air Putih.

In fact the core area of Penang Hill is under the state constituency of Air Putih. Other adjoining areas are from constituency of Air Itam, Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Kebun Bunga.

Cheah's argument that the voters of Kebun Bunga will be denied the opportunity to participate in the management of Penang Hill Corporation is unfounded. The State Assemblymen from Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong are neither the directors of Penang Hill Corporation.

Furthermore, Member of Parliament of Bukit Bendera, Zairil Khir Johari is a director of Penang Hill Corporation and he is rightly qualified to represent the interests of voters in Kebun Bunga as well.


2.  Before the state assembly sitting in November 2015, assemblymen from Pakatan Harapan attended a pre-council meeting on 4-11-2015. During the pre-council meeting, all matters related to the state assembly sitting were discussed. The Chief Minister of Penang stated the stance of state government to oppose the motion raised by UMNO.   PKR Backbenchers including Cheah Kah Peng did not voice their views nor objecting to it. All the 29 Pakatan Harapan assemblymen attended the pre-council meeting with the exception of Penanti who was on medical leave.


Penang State Assembly sitting lasted for 6 days. UMNO's motion was on the last day (20-11-2016). During the 6 meeting days, there were ample time for Cheah to raise his concern whether in the debate or during informal discussion with the government colleagues in Pakatan Harapan. Cheah also did not inform the three PKR EXCOs in the Penang State Government.

Cheah did not participate in the debate during UMNO's motion and Pakatan Harapan assemblymen came to know about his intention when he casted the abstention vote.

Three months after the incident, Cheah is trying to justify his action now. This is not a responsible behaviour.

Cheah did not inform his government colleagues and going against the collective decision in the pre-council meeting. This is a betrayal of trust and no difference from “a stab at the back”. Why didn't Cheah raise his objection during the pre-council meeting? Why didn't he inform his colleagues during the 6 days of assembly sitting? If he had done so, the State Government will definitely discuss with him.



3. Cheah also stated in the press conference that there was no opportunity for him to participate in the assembly debate. This is a lie. The State Assembly Speaker, Dato Law Choo Kiang, has given ample time and freedom to each and every assemblyman to participate in the debates and there were days when meeting was carried on until 11pm.  Seven assemblymen participated in the UMNO's motion debate but not Cheah.

    4.    Cheah Kah Peng is also trying to claim credit that he pushes for the organizing of public forums on Public Transport Master Plan. This is again his own imagination and not true.  He has kept quiet in the assembly debate and never make such suggestion.

5.   If Cheah Kah Peng is in the view that the his removal from the board of Penang Hill Corporation is illegal, then he perhaps could use the legal avenue to prove his assertion.