GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Legislative Assembly will be unavailable to convene its proceedings this month due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases nationwide.
Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said the National Security Council (NSC) had turned down his request to convene the state assembly sitting with the tightened movement control order under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
Law said he had written the NSC director-general and the Prime Minister’s Department on April 23, seeking permission to convene the state assembly.
In the letter Law said he intends to pass a motion to allow youth above 18 years old to vote in the upcoming general election.
Law said the NSC in its reply on May 20 considered the application, but since the emergency ordinance was still in force, it would not be suitable for the state assembly to convene under the circumstances.
“Convening the state assembly would not be safe due to the surge in Covid-19 cases, and any form of gathering should be avoided,” he said.
Law said he hopes the state sitting would be allowed once the emergency is lifted and when the number of Covid-19 cases has been reduced, creating a safer environment.
In March this year, the Penang government held a two-day engagement session to enable assemblymen to raise issues directly to the executive council following the suspension of the state assembly as a result of the emergency. – The Vibes, June 11, 2021
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