Nothing unusual for state excos to be missing from state assembly - Chow
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) today urged Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to explain why three of his state executive councillors (exco) were missing during today state assembly proceedings.
At a press conference at Dewan Sri Pinang today, PRM former GE14 candidate Teh Yee Cheu expressed regret that state excos had begun to treat assembly sittings as something minor, even though there was a state Budget presentation.
PSM today urged Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to explain why three of his state executive councillors (exco) were missing during today state assembly proceedings.
At a press conference at Dewan Sri Pinang today, PSM's former GE14 candidate Teh Yee Cheu expressed regret that state excos had begun to treat assembly sittings as something minor, even though there was a state Budget presentation.
"Based on our calculations, the three state leaders had contributed to 30% of absent time of state exco members during the sittings since last year.
"Please clarify what is the standard operating practice (SOP) pertaining to the presence of state exco members during state assembly sittings," said Teh, who was former DAP Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson and contested in Sungai Pinang in the last national polls.
Accompanying him at the press conference was Parti Rakyat Malaysia's (PRM) former Tanjung Bungah GE14 candidate and ex-senior journalist Chuah Cheong Wee.
The proceedings are scheduled for a week until Nov 8, Friday.
The duo had queried why state exco members - Dr Afif Bahardin, Zairil Khir Johari and Yeoh Soon Hin were absent from today's proceedings.
In an immediate response, Chow defended the trio, saying their absence was normal and "nothing unusual" due to their work schedules.
Chow said Afif (above) had a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a six -week leadership fellowship programme in the United States.
"I had discussed the matter with him and since it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, we let him pursue the matter.
"I, too, had participated in a similar programme in 2001," Chow told reporters after presenting Penang's Budget 2020.
As for Zairil, the Tanjung Bungah elected representative was attending a two - day high-level roundtable meeting on green finance opportunities in ASEAN in Paris, France.
"The meeting is important to help us seek knowledge and funding for our projects on flood mitigation and road infrastructure," Chow said.
It is learnt that Zairil is on his way back to Penang today.
Yeoh, the exco in charge of tourism, was in India, on a programme to promote Penang's as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.