GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government, through the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, will seek the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to convene the state legislative assembly sitting as soon as possible.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state would use provisions under the Emergency Ordinance 2021 to submit a humble request to the King.
He said the state would adopt measures and procedures applied during the state legislative assembly sitting in October last year, which had proven to be successful in controlling the spread of the Covid-19.
"Based on the state's stand on the matter, I will seek approval from the Yang di-Pertua Negeri to write to the King on the state's intention (to convene the state legislative assembly sitting immediately).
"We hope the King will consider our humble request," he said today.
In whatever situation, Chow said, the Penang government or even the state legislative assembly, would not take any risks and shirk its responsibility in controlling the spread of Covid-19.
"We will seek the advice from the state Health Department and the National Security Council (NSC), especially if the spread of the Covid-19 is still high in the state or the implementation of the movement restrictions is still needed," he added.
Chow also extended the state's wishes to the King on the need to hold Parliament session as soon as possible.
In this regard, he said it was the state's stand that the same need arose for the state legislative assembly to convene as the Emergency Ordinance and the National Recovery Plan also impacted the running of the state government machinery.
"This is because both Parliament and the state legislative assembly are important platforms to debate various issues, especially those related to the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as matters involving the allocation of expenditure to revive the country's economy," he said.
It was reported yesterday that the King was of the view that Parliament should sit as soon as possible.
In a statement issued, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin had said that the King expressed the opinion after listening to the views of various parties.
"After weighing all views by political leaders, the Special Independent Committee on Emergency 2021 as well as experts and members of government agencies, His Majesty has expressed the opinion that the Parliament sitting must be held as soon as possible.
"This is to enable the Emergency Ordinances and the National Recovery Plan to be debated by the members of Dewan Rakyat," he was quoted as saying.
According to Ahmad Fadil, the King had also expressed hope for the daily number of Covid-19 infections to be reduced soon, adding that the vaccination process was the "exit strategy" to curb the chain of infection in the country.