By Andarea Filmer ( The Star )
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state executive council has revoked the councillorship of Johari Kassim, the controversial PKR Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) whip who led a boycott of the swearing-in ceremony of council president Mokhtar Mohd Jait.
State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state exco had unanimously agreed upon rescinding Johari’s position during their weekly meeting last Friday.
“We have decided to revoke Johari’s position as a MPSP councillor under Section 10 (4) of the Local Government Act 1976.
“Under this Section, a municipal councillor’s position may be declared vacant under one of three conditions - a councillor resigning on his own accord, a councillor facing a conflict of interest or a councillor’s nomination being nullified by the state administration,” Chow told reporters after launching a new phase of bilingual road signs here Monday.
He added that the state revoked Johari’s position as an MPSP councillor under the third condition and the law did not have provisions for Johari to appeal the decision.
“The revocation took effect on June 26 and the State Secretary (Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman) will issue an official letter to Johari today.
“We believe this action is a stern warning by the state government to the other MPSP councillors who followed him (in the boycott),” Chow said.
On June 4, Johari led eight MPSP PKR councillors in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of former North Seberang Prai district officer Mokhtar as council head under claims that the position had been reserved for a PKR member.
His action lead to DAP leaders, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Chief of Staff Jeff Ooi and political secretary Ng Wei Aik, calling for his resignation and removal on grounds of insubordination.
Asked whether the state was planning any further action against the other seven MPSP PKR municipal councillors over the issue, Chow said the warning was “good enough”.
Asked whether PKR leaders had been consulted in the disciplinary action, Chow said Lim had discussed it with Penang PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.
When contacted, Johari seemed calm over the revelation.
“I am not aware of it. I had a meeting with Zahrain on Saturday and he did not mention it.
“Anyway, I was appointed by PKR to be a councillor not DAP or the state,” he said.
In an immediate response, Chow said if that was the case, Johari should try to “ask PKR to reappoint him”.
BERKATALAH BENAR WALAUPUN PAHIT !
State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state exco had unanimously agreed upon rescinding Johari’s position during their weekly meeting last Friday.
“We have decided to revoke Johari’s position as a MPSP councillor under Section 10 (4) of the Local Government Act 1976.
“Under this Section, a municipal councillor’s position may be declared vacant under one of three conditions - a councillor resigning on his own accord, a councillor facing a conflict of interest or a councillor’s nomination being nullified by the state administration,” Chow told reporters after launching a new phase of bilingual road signs here Monday.
He added that the state revoked Johari’s position as an MPSP councillor under the third condition and the law did not have provisions for Johari to appeal the decision.
“The revocation took effect on June 26 and the State Secretary (Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman) will issue an official letter to Johari today.
“We believe this action is a stern warning by the state government to the other MPSP councillors who followed him (in the boycott),” Chow said.
On June 4, Johari led eight MPSP PKR councillors in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of former North Seberang Prai district officer Mokhtar as council head under claims that the position had been reserved for a PKR member.
His action lead to DAP leaders, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Chief of Staff Jeff Ooi and political secretary Ng Wei Aik, calling for his resignation and removal on grounds of insubordination.
Asked whether the state was planning any further action against the other seven MPSP PKR municipal councillors over the issue, Chow said the warning was “good enough”.
Asked whether PKR leaders had been consulted in the disciplinary action, Chow said Lim had discussed it with Penang PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.
When contacted, Johari seemed calm over the revelation.
“I am not aware of it. I had a meeting with Zahrain on Saturday and he did not mention it.
“Anyway, I was appointed by PKR to be a councillor not DAP or the state,” he said.
In an immediate response, Chow said if that was the case, Johari should try to “ask PKR to reappoint him”.
