GEORGE TOWN: Datuk Law Choo Kiang was sworn in as the Penang State Assembly Speaker for the second term today.
Law, 48, was the only name proposed by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for the post. The proposal was supported by Deputy Chief Minister 1 Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman.
Law of PKR did not contest in the 14th General Election (GE14). He was the former Bukit Tambun assemblyman.
Addressing the elected representatives and those present after being sworn in, Law thanked all for the trust and confidence entrusted upon him.
“I especially thank the opposition assemblymen for not walking out during my swearing in,” he said in jest, referring to the incident in Parliament during the swearing in of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
Law also vowed to do his best, promising to defend and uphold the state constitution.
“I just want to remind all the elected representatives to be disciplined at all times as well as to ensure integrity and full responsibility.
“Look after the sanctity of this august house. ‘Lawan tetap lawan, kawan tetap kawan, dewan tetap dewan’,” he added.
Following the swearing-in of Law, all 40 state elected representatives took their oath of office in front of him.
They included 37 assemblymen from Pakatan Harapan (PH), two from Barisan Nasional (BN) and one from PAS.
Chow was sworn in first, followed by the 10 state executive council members.
This was then followed by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is the Air Putih assemblyman, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman and others.
Both were assigned front row seats, next to each other, alongside the state executive council members.
The assembly then appointed PKR’s Sungai Bakap assemblyman Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah as the Deputy Speaker.
Law also announced the appointment of BN’s Sungai Dua assemblyman Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor as state opposition leader.
He is the most senior compared to his BN colleague, Permatang Berangan's Nor Hafizah Othman and Pas' Penaga assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah.
Speaking to newsmen afterwards, Yusoff said he would accept the role of the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman as offered and promised in the PH manifesto.
"We will accept this. We will look at any issues or weaknesses that need to be investigated in the state’s accounts.
"We will also look at projects and any issues related to corruption," he said, adding that even if they were not offered the position, they would still be in the committee.
Yusoff said despite only three of them in the opposition bench, they would serve as a strong check and balance to the government.
"We will raise issues affecting the people such as floods, the Penang Transport Master Plan, environment, housing issues, the poor, the economy and job opportunities for the people.
“Religious issues will always be brought up so we will maintain a multiracial concept while at the same time protecting the position of Islam as per the Federal Constitution,” he added.
In the last state assembly, Pakatan Harapan held 29 seats while Umno had 10 seats and Pas, one.