Penang state assembly to sit as scheduled next week

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting scheduled for next week will proceed as scheduled amidst the spike in Covid-19 cases.

State assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said the sitting would be broadcast live through the official website of the assembly, www.sidangdunpenang.com.

He said this was in line with the Prime Minister's announcement on the recovery movement control order (MCO) in preventing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

"The assembly will adhere to the general standard operating procedure (SOP) of event implementation set by the National Security Council and Health Ministry," he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 9).

Law said the involvement of the state and Federal agencies’ head of departments would be limited.

"Disinfection procedure of surface and critical areas of the state assembly hall will be conducted before the commencement of the sitting.

"Screening and body temperature check will be conducted on all, and physical distancing of at least 1m will be observed.

"The seat location between the state assemblyman will also be distanced, with additional transparent partitions installed at each seat," he said.

Law also said media practitioners would not be allowed to cover the proceedings of the state assembly physically, but could do so via live streaming.

"If any of the state assemblymen want to do a press conference, they will do it online," he added.

The legislative assembly is scheduled to convene from Oct 12-19.

Last April, Penang recorded the shortest state assembly meeting in its history, featuring a speech by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, followed by a speech by opposition leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor and ending with a response from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.