No excuse not to attend assembly sitting, says Johor Speaker

JOHOR BARU: Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat wants a good turnout from all 56 assemblymen, from the Mentri Besar to the 10 state executive committee chairmen, at the first state assembly sitting.

He points out that the assemblymen do not have any excuse not to attend the assembly sitting starting on Aug 9.

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar will officiate the opening of the state assembly in Kota Iskandar.

“Only state Religious and Education Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan and Bukit Pasir assemblyman Najib Lep will not be present as both of them will be in Mecca to perform the haj,” Suhaizan said yesterday.

The state assembly will only be held for one week, which is from Aug 9 to 19.

As the opening day falls on a Thursday, Suhaizan said the debate session will only start on a Sunday, which is Aug 12, as weekends in the state fall on a Friday and Saturday.

“I do not want to see a lack of quorum happening in the state assembly and I would like to remind all assemblymen that they should not skip the sitting,” he said.

The state assembly is expected to be a fiery affair, with Pakatan Harapan able to form the state government in what was known as a Barisan Nasional fortress.

Pakatan has 36 seats, followed by Barisan with 16.

The state has three Independent assemblymen while PAS has only one representative.

It was recently reported that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed his dissatisfaction over the attendance of his Cabinet members and their deputies in Parliament.

On Tuesday, the Dewan Rakyat was forced to halt proceedings temporarily due to a lack of quorum.