Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari (L) having a light moment with Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee at the state assembly building in Lebuh Light, Penang. ( November 23, 2022 ) — LIM BENG TATT/The Star.
GEORGE TOWN: A total of nine assemblymen did not participate in the state legislative debate, says Datuk Law Choo Kiang.
The Speaker said he believed this is the largest number of elected representatives who did not participate in the debate over the years.
The assemblymen who did not debate were Zolkifly Md Lazim (PN- Teluk Bahang), Zulkifli Ibrahim (PN- Sungai Acheh), Dr Afif Bahardin (PN- Seberang Jaya), Lim Guan Eng (PH- Air Putih), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH- Pulau Jerejak), Jason Ong (PH-Kebun Bunga), Lee Khai Loon (PH- Machang Bubok), Mustafa Kamal Ahmad (PH- Telok Ayer Tawar) and Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (PH- Permatang Pasir).
"Mohd Faiz originally asked for leave on Nov 21, 22 and 24, but he didn't ask for leave on Nov 23.
“Although he came, he couldn't make it to the debate, so he didn't participate in the debate.
“Lee, who was down with Covid-19, has been absent since Tuesday (Nov 22),” he said.
Meanwhile, Law lamented Ong for being absent from the state assembly on Wednesday (Nov 23).
“Not only did he ask for leave at the last minute, but the reason for the leave was unacceptable.
“He texted me via WhatsApp at 12.41pm.
“Although it is a good thing to ask for leave, the reason for the leave he provided was unacceptable.
“Ong asked for leave on the grounds that he needed to go to Kuala Lumpur with the party leader to deal with the organisation of the new government, but I can't accept this reason, and I will report the matter directly to the Penang PKR chairman,” he said.
Law said he understood that Lim and Saifuddin had to miss the state assembly sitting as they are party leaders.
“This reason for taking a leave of absence is justifiable.
"Lim asked for leave, but Saifuddin did not ask me for leave.
“Although it is understandable that they have important things to do, it would be better if they asked for leave,” he said.
He pointed out that despite feeling under the weather, some state legislators including Lim Siew Khim (PH- Sungai Pinang) and Opposition leader Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN- Sungai Dua) still made it to the state assembly.
