Never before – two federal ministers to take oath with Penang reps

GEORGE TOWN: With two federal ministers to be sworn in among the state’s 40 assemblymen, the first meeting of the post-general election state legislative assembly is set to score a first in Peninsular Malaysia.

All eyes will be on Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Air Putih) and Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Pantai Jerejak) as they take their oath in the august House today.

Lim and Saifuddin are also the Bagan and Kulim-Bandar Baharu MPs respectively.

State assembly Speaker-designate Datuk Law Choo Kiang said it would be a first in the history of the peninsula for federal ministers to be sworn in as assemblymen.

“Both the ministers will be backbenchers but no special privileges will be accorded to them.

“We are finalising the seating arrangement as there are only three opposition members now compared to 10 previously,” he said yesterday.

Before the general election, Lim sat in the front row as the Chief Minister but the seat will now be occupied by his successor, Chow Kon Yeow.

The three opposition assemblymen are Nor Hafizah Othman of Permatang Berangan and Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor of Sungai Dua, both from Barisan Nasional, and PAS’ Mohd Yusni Mat Piah of Penaga.

“Two-thirds of the assemblymen will be new faces and many are expected to field questions when the assembly proper begins on Aug 6,” said Law.

With Pakatan Harapan holding 37 seats in the 40-seat assembly, the meeting will be considerably tamer compared to previous years.

Gone are the fiery speakers such as former Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headen Ayoob Hussain Shah, who kept the state government on its toes with questions on land reclamation, the Penang Transport Master Plan and housing woes.

The antics of former Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who is now Jelutong MP, will also be missed as he usually earns the ire of opposition members for interjecting during debates and raising national issues.

Also missing will be former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey, who used to raise questions on the controversial Pan Island Link 1, a current hot topic.

The Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas will officially open the first session of the post-election assembly tomorrow.

The meeting is expected to continue for a week.

Selangor also created a record of sorts after Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was appointed Economic Affairs Minister while serving as the mentri besar, a post he subsequently gave up.