Latest news with #PenangStateAssembly
The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Penang state assembly approves two water-related Bills
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang State Assembly has unanimously approved two water-related Bills, namely the Penang Water Resources Enactment 2025 and the Penang Water Resources Board Enactment 2025. The Bills were tabled by Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (PH-Tanjong Bungah) to strengthen the state's framework for water resource management. The legislation covers the protection, conservation and efficient usage of water resources, as well as provisions for licensing, offences and penalties. All assemblymen from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional voted in favour of the Bill. The state assembly also approved a motion to reactivate a select committee on state and federal relations proposed by Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubuk). The committee will now be headed by Gooi Hsiao Leong (PH-Bukit Tengah) with Lee, Datuk Azrul Mahathir Aziz (PH-Bayan Lepas), Teh Lai Heng (PH-Komtar), Tan Hooi Peng (PH-Seri Delima), Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PN-Sungai Dua) and Izhar Shah Arif Shah (PN-Seberang Jaya) as members. According to Lee, the committee is important to strengthen the role of the assembly as an institution of checks and balances, as well as to reinforce a more equitable, transparent and constructive bilateral relationship between the state and the Federal Government.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Commotion at Penang state assembly over choice of language
GEORGE TOWN: A commotion has erupted in the morning session of the Penang State Assembly at Lebuh Light over the use of language by assemblymen. This comes after Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo (PH–Datok Keramat), who was responding to a question, was interrupted by Azmi Alang (PN–Teluk Ayer Tawar), who requested that the speech be delivered in Malay. The remark triggered reactions across the assembly in the August Hall, prompting Jagdeep to clarify that he had, in fact, spoken in Malay and not solely in English. "Whatever I have spoken, I have started with Bahasa Malaysia. "What did Teluk Ayer Tawar get in SPM for Bahasa Malaysia? Dare to answer? After I have spoken in Bahasa Malaysia and if you do not understand English, I shall come and teach you," he replied, jokingly, on Tuesday (May 20). Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang then stepped in to calm the situation and reminded members that it was preferable to use Malay for official proceedings. Before continuing his response, Jagdeep then apologised and acknowledged the suggestion, saying that he would proceed in Malay, but emphasised the global significance of English. "I have no problems with Bahasa Malaysia. "It is (English) the lingua franca of the world. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, I've been here for 18 years," he said, adding that his aim was to serve Penang to the best of his ability. Jagdeep was answering a question from Teh Lai Heng (PH–Komtar) regarding how multinational companies (MNCs) benefit not only through investments but also via the strengthening of the electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem, including technology transfer, talent development, and the alignment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes with the needs of high-skill industries.
