GEORGE TOWN – Penang state assembly speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang confirmed that Pantai Jerejak state assemblyman Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail could not attend the opening ceremony of the Penang state assembly session today.
He said Saifuddin had sent a letter of notification of his absence last Tuesday, on the grounds of having business abroad.
“This is normal. There is no rule that requires a member of the state legislature to be present, but it is best to be present.
“He also sent a letter to me earlier this week. So, that's his right. There is no problem,” he said when met after the opening ceremony of the state assembly today.
Law said the letter dated May 23 also informed that Saifuddin could not attend only on the opening day today.
In 2020, Saifuddin’s absence from the first day of the state assembly sitting until the day of the winding-up session sparked heated debate among some state assemblymen.
Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya-Bersatu) described the Pantai Jerejak state assemblyman as receiving “gaji buta” (free money) for not attending the state assembly sitting after getting the people’s mandate.
The action has sparked a tongue-in-cheek dispute between him and several Pakatan Harapan state assemblymen who rose to protest and asked Afif to retract the word “gaji buta”.
Saifuddin is the PKR secretary-general and a candidate for the post of PKR deputy president in the party’s ongoing election. He is also the MP for Kulim Bandar Baru. – The Vibes, May 27, 2022
