A highly placed source told FMT the “exco and assemblymen engagement session” on Monday and Tuesday would not replace the official legislature, but merely provide an avenue for the elected representatives to get answers from the state executive councillors.
The source said there would be no speaker presiding, but the chief minister and his 10 exco members would answer questions from the 30 other assemblymen on matters concerning their constituencies.
“The exco members will have an hour to answer some 20-odd questions from the assemblymen, similar to question time at the assembly. It is basically a good way for the reps to get issues raised to the executive,” the source said.
The engagement session will not be held at the state assembly at Dewan Sri Pinang and would be subject to Covid-19 SOPs, the source said.
“If the DAP convention with 2,000-odd delegates could be held, a small group of 40 representatives should not be a problem,” the source said.
An opposition member in the assembly does not seem to agree. “As long as the emergency ordinance is still in force, the assembly sitting must adhere to the proclamation by the federal government,” said Bertam assemblyman Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq of PPBM.
“The Covid-19 situation is still worrying and instead of prioritising politicking, all steps should be taken to curb the spread of the virus.”
‘Perfectly legal’ meeting
Law professor Gurdial Singh Nijar said such a gathering was “perfectly legal”, as it would merely be a meeting between state exco members and assemblymen.
He said they were free to gather as long they did not sit formally as a state assembly.
“The assembly can pass laws, resolutions and make all sorts of decisions. This gathering will strictly be a dialogue or a forum. They should call it a dialogue session between exco and assemblymen. That is perfectly legal,” he said.
The state assembly sitting scheduled for next month has been cancelled because of the emergency, which will only expire in August.
The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 gazetted by the federal government since Jan 11 bans the summoning of Parliament or state assembly.
In a brief text to FMT, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow confirmed that there would not be any state assembly meeting next month.
Speaker Law Choo Kiang, meanwhile, said the state legislature was “ever ready” to convene, with strict Covid-19 SOPs.
“As long as there is a green light from the authorities, we are ready to hold the assembly. Hopefully, we can resume as soon as possible,” Law said.
PKR’s Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon said that while the engagement session next week was a good move, the state assembly sitting would be more appropriate.
“The state assembly is an important legislative branch for check and balance, to make sure the executive is accountable and transparent in making any decision on policies,” he said.
The state assembly last sat on Oct 12 for six days.
PH, comprising DAP, PKR and Amanah, holds a super majority with 33 seats in the 40-member assembly. DAP has 19 seats, PKR 12 and Amanah two.
The seven-member opposition bench comprises four PPBM assemblymen, two from Umno and one from PAS.