GEORGE TOWN – Penang has received royal assent to hold its legislative assembly sitting after the state of national emergency ends on August 1.
The legislative sitting is therefore now slated for September 1, some nine months after the last sitting where the Budget was passed.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that on behalf of the state and its elected representatives, they convey their utmost gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for sanctioning the state’s request for the assembly sitting to be reconvened.
Although the state had sought for an earlier date since the emergency is tentatively due to end on August 1, His Majesty decreed that it is best held after the emergency provision ends so Penang chose September 1.
Chow said in a statement that the sitting will recommence based on the regulations and it will also incorporate the need for Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
In a related development, assemblymen when contacted, said that the sitting would be valuable as they have many issues to raise from flood mitigation to the fate of the Penang Transport Master Plan and the state’s ability to draw foreign direct investments.
There is also the issue over how the state is coping with Covid-19.
Penang, along with Perlis, Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, are currently in Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan. – The Vibes, July 8, 2021
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