The First (special) Session of the First Term of the 15th Malacca state assembly which was supposed to be held for four days from today until Thursday, was shortened to one day only.

The motion to shorten the sitting was proposed by Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali following the spread of the Covid-19 virus among assembly members and staff.

He said the motion was tabled based on Standing Order 9 (3) and 17 (5)(m) of the Malacca state legislative assembly, as well as the Malacca State Health Department’s recommendations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Sulaiman said during the sitting, there would be no oral question-and-answer session or adjournment speech or written reply, in accordance with Standing Order 17 (5) (m) due to time constraints.

Instead, he said the sitting would focus on the tabling of the state budget 2022.

The motion was seconded by State Investment, Industrial and Entrepreneur Development exco Ab Rauf Yusoh who said that the state assembly sitting agenda had been arranged according to priorities and to ensure the smooth running of state administration during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 15 assemblypersons voted in favour of the motion, six abstained and seven were absent.

- Bernama