Outspoken PKR Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin feels she may not be fielded again at the coming national polls as she is not on the list of candidates proposed by the party.
"No, I am not on the list," Norlela told Malaysiakini, raising speculation that she may be booted out for her bold approach in solving her voters' problems.
One of the 10 PKR reps in Penang, Norlela, a former university don, won the seat in 2013 and replaced state PKR chief Mansor Othman, who contested the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat.
If fielded, Norlela said she may be relocated to another seat outside Penang.
It is learnt that she may be most likely put to contest in Kajang, Selangor, which is currently held by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
"There have been calls to ask me to contest in another seat. I am not on the list in Penang, I have been kind of notified since (the) last state assembly sitting in May," said the 54-year-old mother of four.
A first time elected representative, Norlela has been vocal in raising issues affecting her constituents.
She was recently criticised by pro-Penang government supporters for saying "Thank you, MACC" after the commission raided an illegal factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.
Following the raid, state executive councillor on environment Phee Boon Poh (photo) was detained by the graft-buster but the Sungai Puyu assemblyperson denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
Collision course with state leaders
At the height of the matter, Norlela exposed a petition signed by 170 residents who wanted the 15-year-old factory shut down.
This put her on a collision course with state government leaders but her party did not take any disciplinary action against her, which she appreciates.
"We want wakil rakyat who can stand up for us, I had no choice in the Sungai Lembu illegal factory issue as the people sent me a petition.
"If there are no complaints, and no petitions, there is no issue, I would not be complaining," said Norlela who vowed to be a "YB" ("Yang Berhormat") who settles problems for the people.
She decided to be such a representative after witnessing how former PKR assemblyperson Lee Chin Cheh was bombarded with complaints. At the time, Norlela was PKR Kajang branch secretary.
She does not regret raising all those "touchy and controversial issues" which supporters thought would paint a negative picture of the state and its current leadership.
"In PKR, we are not restricted from doing so, we are allowed to highlight issues concerning the government of the day. It's normal as our main interest is our constituents.
"So far, our party has not taken any action against us. I am happy about that, it shows democracy and freedom of speech within the party. We are not controlled or told what to do. That's why I am comfortable in my party.
"Whatever it is, Harapan is so much better than BN, where party leaders defend wrongdoings," she added.
Norlela also credits DAP and state executive councillors for encouraging her to raise her constituency problems in the state assembly.
The assembly, which sat from Nov 2 to 10, saw Norlela being enthusiastic, vocal, and ready to ask questions during the debate on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's 2018 Budget.
Despite feeling under the weather and exhausted due to the clean-up and mitigation efforts after the massive floods on Nov 4 and 5, Norlela appeared to be in top form at the august House.
"We are always told, raise your concerns at the state assembly, let's debate it there. It is not like we like to argue or fight with our state leaders or excos, but they tell us to speak up during the sessions," she said. - Mkini
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