PENANG: Datuk Lee Kah Choon, the former Gerakan deputy secretary-general who was appointed to posts in two Penang state government agencies, will be served with a show-cause letter.

He will have to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for accepting the posts of director in Penang Development Corporation and InvestPenang as well as executive chairman of InvestPenang.

“The party had directed party members to relinquish all appointments as municipal and district councillors as well as Village Security and Development Committee members in states now ruled by Pakatan Rakyat,” former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said in a press statement yesterday.

“This directive is based on the premise that Gerakan now has to play the role as an effective opposition in Penang. We cannot do this objectively if our own members hold key positions in the state and local administrations,” Dr Koh said.

Dr Koh also questioned Chief Minster Lim Guan Eng’s political motives in appointing Lee as he has no direct experience in promoting investment in the industrial sector.

“Lee has experience as a lawyer and was a parliamentary secretary of the Health Ministry, which is unrelated to the manufacturing industry,” Dr Koh said. “As the industrial sector is Penang’s most important economic sector, it is not proper for Lim to play politics in a way that may jeopardise Penang’s efforts and ability to effectively attract investment.”

Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe called on Lee to surrender his party membership after he accepted the posts.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Bernama headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Tan said Lee must leave Gerakan without waiting for the party leadership to decide for him, adding that the party would not break up if Lee's membership is withdrawn.