Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has also expressed surprise that there was no question-and-answer session in the current sitting of the state legislative assembly.

lim guan eng visit kampung batu uban 210812 lim guan eng The situation could have been avoided, Lim ( right ) said, but it been decided earlier by the House secretary, on the advice of the state legal adviser.

"Before Law Choo Kiang (PKR-Bukit Tambun) was appointed speaker on June 28, there was no speaker so the House secretary handled matters (arising) on the advice of the legal adviser," Lim said when asked about the matter.

"It is not necessary to follow the LA's advice, but it is normally complied with," he added.

Lim was responding to criticism from State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Ayer Tawar), who likened this to "death penalty for democracy" in the Penang assembly because the Q&A session was suspended because of the need to "save time".

Jahara was chided by state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Dato Keramat) who told her to withdraw her remarks. Jagdeep said the opposition could raise this during the debate on the address of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri during the sitting which will go on until Friday.

NONE When told that "saving time" was not a good excuse to suspend the Q&A session, Lim said he suspected it was more of the House not having sufficient time to notify the assemblypersons to prepare the questions and for the state executive councillors to prepare the replies.

He vowed to find out more about the matter, saying it was "not an ordinary course of action".

When told that there was general disappointment that Pakatan backbenchers did not raise the issue, which was brought up by Umno assemblypersons, Lim said "point taken".

"It also happens in other state assemblies, but the BN will not admit it," he said.

Lim was also asked why Pakatan assemblypersons did not raise the issue, when they would have if the same situation had occurred in Parliament, where BN rules.

"It is not right for us to intervene in the House matters," he said.

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