DAP man allegedly barred from distributing flood aid by party leadership

GEORGE TOWN: Maverick DAP Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu has become the second assemblyman to be barred from distributing aid from the state flood relief fund.
He followed Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng from PKR, who was barred for apparently not performing his duties as an elected representative.
Both assemblymen were also outspoken critics of the state policies on the environment.
Still bewildered over what had happened, the embattled DAP representative remained upbeat despite being dropped from distributing aid.
He remained adamant to serve his constituents although the period to register applicants for the flood relief fund had expired on Dec 2.
Teh revealed that he only learnt about his sudden sidelining from party colleague and Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey after attending a meeting in Komtar on Nov 29.
He said that he was told not to handle the task anymore.
"There was no exact reason cited but only that it was merely an instruction from the top.
"Let the public judge it," the visibly upset Teh said.
He added he was not notified by anyone including state secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus compared to an email received by Cheah who was barred previously.
The two-term assemblyman has been at loggerheads with state government particularly Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over green issues in the state.
Various issues raised including the reclamation, land clearing and transgender issues have put him on the spot.
However, it was reported that Teh would still serve his constituents as usual until the next general election.
State Local Government, Traffic and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, nonetheless, told the media that Teh's barring could be exactly the same reason as to why Cheah was excluded.
"This question should be directed to Lim" he said when approached by the media while speaking about the upcoming Earth Hour event.
Chow, however, said this will not hamper the flood aid registration exercise as payment will be made to the affected families from this Saturday.
Farizan, meanwhile, did not wish to comment when contacted.