Perak state assembly to start on Monday (March 28), says state Speaker

IPOH: The first meeting for the fifth year of the 14th Perak state assembly will start on Monday (March 28).

Perak State Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid said the sitting will be held over three days from March 28 to 30.

Mohammad Zahir said Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Zara Salim will be gracing the opening ceremony.

"The Sultan will be giving his royal speech on the first day.

"The oral question-and-answer session will be held on the second and third day, with each session being allocated one hour," he said in a press conference at the state secretariat building here on Friday (March 25).

"Only 20 state assemblymen will be allowed to debate the Sultan's speech on the second day.

"These includes nine representatives from the government backbenchers, 10 from the Opposition and one Independent," he said.

Mohammad Zahir said while the country prepares to transition into the endemic phase, the existing standard operating procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19 as set by the state Health Department and National Security Council will be followed.

"All those involved will need to undergo tests each day in the morning at the state secretariat banquet hall and only those confirmed to be negative will be allowed in the hall," he said.

He also said that only official media, which includes Bernama, RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani, was allowed to cover the sitting physically.

"The people can follow the live streaming of the sitting on the state's official portal, Facebook page and YouTube channel," he said.

Mohammad Zahir said they had wanted to have a longer sitting but were advised not to due to the ongoing pandemic.

"We actually have a lot on the agenda but decided to only have a three-day sitting this time.

"When we are in the endemic phase, we can have longer sittings, with the agreement from the state executive council," he said, adding that no extraordinary motions were received.