GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has appointed Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, Lee Khai Loon, Fadhlina Sidek, and Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik as “ADUN Angkat” (adopted assemblymen) for the four vacant seats of Bertam, Seberang Jaya, Sg Acheh, and Teluk Bahang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the appointments were made based on the closest-to-area factor in order to avoid constituents feeling marginalised.
“Actually, when the four (Bersatu) assemblymen left Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2020, we have already appointed new ones. It is just that every year, we update it to take the change into recognition,” he told reporters during his visit to the Chowrasta Market in conjunction with today’s International Woman’s Day celebration.
Chow, who also chairs Penang PH, said deputy chief minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin, who is also Pinang Tunggal assemblyman will look after Bertam, while Lee, who represents Machang Bubok, will look after Sebarang Jaya.
“Bakhtiar, the MP for Balik Pulau, will look after Teluk Bahang, while education minister Fadhlina, who is MP for Nibong Tebal will look after Sg Acheh,” he said.
On Monday, the Penang assembly approved the motion to declare four seats vacant.
The assemblymen, namely Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkfili Ibrahim (Sg Acheh), Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam), and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang), were also ordered to leave the assembly sitting at midday after a majority of assemblymen voted in favour of the motion.
Penang Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said that the unexpected vacancies would not be filled as the assembly would be dissolved in less than two years.
For the record, a Federal Court bench chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had on December 16 last year dismissed a leave application by the four assemblymen to challenge the competency of the Penang assembly to pass an anti-hopping law.
The four assemblymen had also filed a suit in 2020 to challenge the constitutionality of Article 14A(1) of the Penang constitution and to stop their seats from being declared vacant pursuant to Article 14A(1). – Bernama, March 8, 2023
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