Ex-Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Noor Syazwani Md Amin, 31, named MBPP, the mayor, the council secretary and the state secretary as defendants.
She was reportedly the council’s NGO nominee from Persatuan Peniaga Melayu Pasar Malam Pulau Pinang.
She is seeking for seven reliefs, including a declaration that her dismissal from the council was invalid, made without proper reason and made with malicious intent.
Syazwani also sought for her allowances as councillor dating from May to December this year amounting to RM32,000 to be paid by the defendants.
She also sought a payout of RM50,000 as “hardship damages” (gantirugi kesusahan) as an alternative to her RM32,000 allowances demand.
In addition, Syazwani sought aggravated damages of RM50,000 due to “emotional disturbances” experienced after she was allegedly let go without reason.
She also sought general damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court with an interest of 4% per annum until the end of the trial.
Syazwani, in her statement of claim, said she was appointed as a councillor for a year from Jan 1 this year until Dec 31.
She said she received RM2,500 in fixed allowances, RM100 for every meeting and official event attended, and a RM300 telephone allowance.
Syazwani claimed she was let go after a trader complained to the Penang government.
“Three accusations were levelled at the plaintiff, which was a visit to a restaurant without a licensing and health officer; ordering a businessperson to buy items from the plaintiff’s brother; and making an official visit to a restaurant with the plaintiff’s brother,” her statement of claim read.
Syazwani also claimed she had written a letter to Penang Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, denying the accusations against her.
“The plaintiff has since demanded Chow furnish proof of the accusations via a letter but has yet to receive any reply to date.
“… the hurried manner in which the plaintiff was let go shows there are elements of mala fide against the plaintiff.
“… the failure of the defendants to give a proper and reasonable explanation has prejudiced the plaintiff,” the statement read.
Former PAS appointee to the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) Iszuree Ibrahim suffered a similar fate two years ago.
Iszuree was relieved of his duties after he was alleged to have publicly derided the Penang government leadership on housing matters at the annual PAS muktamar in Batu Pahat, Johor, in September 2014.
He sought a High Court order to nullify the state executive council’s decision on Sept 25, 2014, and MPPP’s letters dated Sept 26 and 29, 2014 to remove him from the MPPP committees, freeze his allocations and prevent him from attending any ad-hoc council meetings or meetings to discuss technical matters.
He brought his dismissal to court but failed, as the High Court ruled that the appointment and dismissal of local government councillors was at the sole discretion of the state authorities, pursuant to Section 10 of the Local Government Act 1976.