PENANG, Nov 15 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today Penaga state assemblyman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was playing politics when he turned down the monthly allowance of RM1,000 as the opposition leader in the state.
He also said that Azhar's stand was contrary to that of his fellow BN state assemblymen who had supported the Administrative and State Legislative Assembly Members Enactment (Emolument) (Amendment) 2008 which provided for the allowance.
"A party should always take a consistent stand but maybe in this case Azhar may need more time to get used to his position as the opposition leader," he told reporters after launching the Penang International Halal Taskforce here.
Lim said, however, that it was Azhar's right to reject the offer of the monthly allowance "but at the same time his decision should be consistent and not contradict his (fellow BN) members' decision".
Azhar had said in the state assembly yesterday that he rejected the offer because the state government had advocated the need for prudent spending and he did not wish to set a precedent by being the first opposition leader to accept the allowance.
He had also said that he did not want to be indebted to the state government after taking the allowance and did not wish to be made a referral point for other state governments.
Azhar had said he would confirm his rejection of the allowance at the state assembly sitting on Monday.
Lim, who is advisor to the Penang International Halal Taskforce, announced that State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim would head the taskforce which comprises 30 members from various organisation and associations. — Bernama
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