The Penang Legislative Assembly today passed two motions without debate as the state opposition has refused to join the discussion on what they say are "national issues".

Srikandi Keadilan or the party’s young women’s wing - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pkr-leader-probed-under-sedition-act-for-questioning-charity-body-permatas#sthash.ONobQaM4.dpuf
Srikandi Keadilan or the party’s young women’s wing - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pkr-leader-probed-under-sedition-act-for-questioning-charity-body-permatas#sthash.ONobQaM4.dpuf

The 10 Umno assemblypersons, led by state Opposition Leader and Teluk Ayer Tawar assemblyperson Jahara Hamid, had conveyed their intention not to debate the two motions to house speaker Law Choo Kiang.

Law, who is Bukit Tambun assemblyperson, accepted the BN representatives’ request.

One of the motions was proposed by Machang Bubok assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon to condemn the political persecution of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim ( photo ).

“The jailing of former parliamentary opposition leader and former Permatang Pauh MP for a sodomy conviction for five years since Feb 10 is cruel and is against the principles of democracy and justice,” added Lee.

The other motion was proposed by state executive council member Abdul Malik Kassim. 

Abdul Malik urged that the Goods and Services Tax (GST), imposed by the federal government on April 1, be scrapped.

“This is because the tax has a negative impact on the economy and this is burdensome to the daily lives of families, especially those from the lower income group.

“State government projects like road repairs, drainage system, market upgrading, construction of public halls and maintenance of green fields may also be affected due to the state’s financial burden of six percent due to the GST,” said the Batu Maung assemblyperson.

Two senators approved

After Abdul Malik tabled the motion, the Pakatan assemblypersons tried to display anti-GST placards but were told by speaker Law to remove the posters.

When the two motions were tabled, the Umno assemblypersons remained silent.

However, when came to voting on the motion, the opposition said, “Don’t agree”, but their voices were drowned out by Pakatan reps.

Meanwhile, the house also approved two senators - DAP vice-president Dr Ariffin Omar and chief of PKR’s young women’s wing (Srikandi Keadilan) Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail ( photo ).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng proposed the two names, saying that their new appointments would be effective on June 2 until June 2018.

Ariffin, a former lecturer, is retained for a second term, while Siti Aishah replaced veteran union leader Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Siti Aishah ran in Tambun, Perak, in the 13th general election but lost to Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

Longer question time

In the same proceedings, Lim tabled amendments to the Dewan Negeri's standing order to allow a daily 90-minute question and answer session during the proceedings.

Previously, the House only allowed a three-hour session on one day during the proceedings.

Lim said this move would give the opposition ( right ) more opportunity to ask questions and get the answers.

"We want our state assembly to be the symbol of democracy that is in line with our international city status," he said.

The chief minister also proposed amendments to require state executive council members to provide written replies to questions by the assemblypersons before the proceedings begin.

Before this, written replies were provided during the proceedings, a practice criticised by the opposition.

Lim also tabled amendments to allow oral questions to be submitted 14 days before the session, while written questions need to be submitted 21 days in advance.

State assemblypersons can only submit three oral questions each to the House speaker for every session.

The amendments were passed with overwhelming support from the Pakatan state representatives.