State to review several enactments and ordinances

GEORGE TOWN: Several enactments and ordinances will be reviewed to create a more robust and democratic state assembly process, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. “Many of the enactments and ordinances were inherited from the British which are not so relevant now.

“We are looking at reviewing them as it has been around since the country’s Independence,” he said in reply to Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubuk) who asked if the state would bring back the Parliament Services Act 1963 to empower the Penang State Assembly with the separation of powers.

Chow said the state government would look into ways to use the Parliament Services Commission effectively to administer the state’s administrative affairs and financial management.

“Since 2008, there have been many changes to the parliamentary democratic system in the Penang State Assembly including increasing the oral question session to three hours from 90 minutes, and having written replies for all oral questions.

“A major display of this democratic system would be the limiting of the Chief Minister’s tenure to two terms and having the Opposition Leader head the state Public Accounts Committee in this assembly session,” he said.

Chow added that the role of the state assembly would be further enhanced with the monitoring of state government agencies with assemblymen having the right to criticise or question the action of these agencies.

“The assembly should act as a bridge between the people and the government, and changes would constantly be introduced to enable an effective and efficient role by its members.”