Perak MB welcomes suggestion for meeting of assemblymen instead of sitting, will consult state legal advisor

Perak MB Datuk Saarani Mohamad

IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad welcomes the suggestion for a meeting to be held between all state assemblymen as a "stand-in" for a state assembly sitting.

The state Barisan Nasional chairman said such a meeting was a good suggestion as the country was currently bound by the Emergency Ordinance.

"I think we can hold it a hotel or a banquet hall or anywhere that is deemed suitable. However, we will need to consult our state legal advisor to determine the secretariat of such a meeting. Will it be by the Mentri Besar's office or the state executive council, ” he said in a press conference after attending the Public Works Department's Facebook Live lucky draw programme at the state secretariat building here Monday (March 15).

The Kota Tampan assemblyman had been asked to comment on state Parti Amanah Negara chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi's suggestion for such a meeting to be held between state assemblymen in place of a state assembly sitting, which could not be held during the Emergency.

The Manjoi assemblyman had said that a meeting should be held to discuss the current issues and concerns faced by the people in the state.

In response to Asmuni's suggestion, Saarani said the legal advisor's opinion is needed in this situation to avoid any misunderstanding about the meeting.

“If the State Speaker is present at the meeting, we are worried that it might look as if the Speaker had called for a sitting. As Mentri Besar, I can give briefings about our tax collection status and state expenditure to all state assemblymen," he said.

"The assemblymen could then give their responses and feedback, ” he added, saying that the meeting would also help the state to boost its performance.