HEATED EXCHANGE OVER EXCO PORTFOLIO DISTRIBUTION
Chow accuses Penanti rep of pushing own agenda
THE Penang Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday became a battlefield for a war of words between Dr Norlela Ariffin (PH-Penanti) and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota).
The heated exchange was due to the distribution of executive councillors’ (excos) portfolios.
Norlela, who is known for being vocal, said the line-up for the exco members was biased against assemblymen from PKR, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
She argued that DAP took up most of the posts.
Chow responded by accusing Norlela of pushing her own agenda by raising such concerns.
He said the state government had only 11 exco members responsible for 30 portfolios, and that it was not much different from the federal cabinet.
He said the state government had set up 30 committees, and if by Norlela’s concern that the portfolios should be distributed according to the number of seats held by each party, then the prime minister should be from another party.
“No need for me to say which party,” he said.
He said all assemblymen were given the choice to join a committee.
In the 14th General Election, Pakatan Harapan garnered 37 state seats in Penang — DAP (19), PKR (14), and PAN and PPBM (two each).