Penang BN chairperson Teng Chang Yeow wants the state government to explain if the state assembly sitting is postponed due to the Permatang Pauh by-election.

"We heard that the state government will postpone the state assembly sitting although it has not been confirmed yet," he said in a press conference in Permatang Pauh today.

Teng pointed out how the state assembly sitting went on as usual during the Bukit Gelugor by-election last year.

"So we don't understand why the sitting must be postponed in this by-election," said Teng, adding that the people of Permatang Pauh only account for 70,000, compared to the 1.6 million people of Penang.

"Never before in history, has the state assembly sitting been postponed just for a by-election.

"If it happens, We want the state government to explain why. The sitting should go ahead as planned unless the building catches fire," he said.

Expressing concern that the state government was using its machinery for campaign purposes in the by-election, Teng stressed that the state secretary's office could not be involved in politics.

"Don't take the state assembly as your own party where you can postpone it based on your whims and fancies," he said.

Admitting that there was nothing against the law which prohibited a state assembly from being postponed, Teng however said there must be a valid reason for it.

"If it's just because of a by-election, it does not go well with the mandate given by to Pakatan."

In a statement to the media, Penang state assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang ( right ) had said that the state assembly will commence on April 30 as planned.

But due to the long holiday weekend which will continue until May 4, as well as by-election on May 7, the state assembly sitting will re-commence on May 11.

In a recent development, Law admitted that the sitting was initially scheduled on May 5 but after taking a few factors into consideration, decided to postpone it to May 11 .
 
"This is mainly to ensure the sitting will convene smoothly and all lawmakers, either from the ruling or opposition parties would able to concentrate more on the meeting."
 
He added that media practitioners and government officials, especially those from the district office, were involved in the by-election nomination and polling days.
 
"Their tasks are much heavier than in the Bukit Gelugor by-election, which was not contested by one of the main political parties (BN)."