Penang proposes former exco member Law as speaker

The Penang government proposes to nominate Bukit Tambun assemblyperson Law Choo Kiang as state legislative assembly speaker at tomorrow's sitting of the assembly.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he has also proposed Sungai Bakap assemblyperson Mahtar Shapee to be deputy speaker.

Law and Mahtar are assemblypersons from PKR. Law was also proposed for the post of speaker by state PKR chief Mansor Othman after he was dropped as state executive councillor in the new term of the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government.

Law (left), who is also deputy Penang PKR chief, was replaced in the state exco by Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin.

"The Penang state exco had proposed Mansor (who is also Nibong Tebal MP) as the speaker, which was actively supported by PKR exco members," said Lim in a statement today.

"We unanimously proposed Mansor's name after getting feedback from both within and without the state government, from the lowest to the highest levels of office in Penang," Lim said.

"However, after consultation with PKR de facto leader and parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Law and Mahtar were agreed upon as speaker and deputy speaker.

"Anwar will meet all relevant parties later to explain this decision," added Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.

He will move the motion for the appointment of Law and Maktar in the state assembly tomorrow, with Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon seconding the motion.

Once appointed, Law will replace former speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, while Mahtar will be taking over from former Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Tan Hock Leong.

PKR dropped Tan in the May 5 general election, but he contested as an independent in Machang Bubuk and lost massively to newbie Lee Khai Loon.

Abdul Halim, who is also a state PKR vice-chief, also contested in Teluk Bahang and lost to BN's Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah.