GEORGE TOWN – Penang has reversed its decision to force four Bersatu assemblymen to vacate their seats in view of the current Covid-19 outbreak.
The motion was originally mooted after the four reps switched sides to support Perikatan Nasional earlier this year, violating the state’s anti-hopping law.
Although the sitting will proceed on Monday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government has refrained from pursuing the matter for now.
He added the motion will be pursued in earnest at a more appropriate time.
There are 40 state seats in Penang.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan had dismissed the state’s anti-hopping law as unconstitutional because it had no standing in the federal legislation framework.
“We will proceed with the intended course of action in the next state assembly session, or when it is safe to carry out by-elections without jeopardising the safety of the people,” said Chow.
The four affected seats are Teluk Bahang (Zolkifly Md Lazim), Bertam (Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq), Seberang Jaya (Dr Afif Bahardin), and Sg Acheh (Zulkifli Ibrahim).
Last May, Zolkifly and Khaliq expressed support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the new Bersatu leadership when the party left Pakatan Harapan for Perikatan Nasional.
Dr Afif and Zulkifli were sacked from PKR and joined Bersatu in June and July, respectively.
According to Article 14A (1) of the state constitution, a member of the legislative assembly shall vacate the seat if he or she resigns or is expelled from, or ceases for any reason from representing the party which he or she stood on.
Meanwhile, state speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said the sitting starting on Monday will be done under the complete supervision of the Health Ministry.
This will be the second time that Penang will have a sitting under the new normal since the Covid-19 outbreak early this year. – The Vibes, October 9, 2020
Additional reporting by Arulldas Sinnappan
