Jagdeep takes charge on state assembly affairs

His appointment will ensure that the Question Time slot is not omitted from future assembly sittings as had happened on the current sitting, says CM Lim Guan Eng.

UPDATED

GEORGE TOWN: State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP–Datuk Keramat) will take charge of state legislative assembly affairs on the behalf of the Pakatan Rakyat state government, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP–Air Putih) told the House today.

Lim said Jagdeep would take full responsibility of the House proceedings to ensure smooth flow of legislature democratic process.

Lim explained that Jagdeep had been appointed to assess all proposals and advices to uphold the process of parliamentary democracy in state legislature proceedings.

He said Jagdeep would work with state Opposition Leader Jahara Abdul Hamid (BN–Teluk Air Tawar), under the guidance of House Speaker Law Choo Kiang (PKR–Bukit Tambun).

“This is to ensure that Question Time would not omitted from assembly sitting again,” Lim announced on his winding-up speech during debate on the head of state, Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas’ opening speech on Tuesday.

Jagdeep’s appointment comes in wake of heavy criticisms against Lim’s administration for not allotting Question Time in the current session.

Barisan Nasional opposition legislators have described it as “death to democracy.”

The current session began on Tuesday and would end today.

It is a norm for the assembly to have half-an-hour Question Time before state assemblymen start debating on Bills.

The Question Time is usually used by the opposition to raise queries on the running of the state.

Lim explained that the decision not to have the Question Time was made by the House Secretary following an advice by the state Legal Advisor.

Law had claimed that the Question Time could have been omitted to save time.

Not to repeat mistakes
Later at a press conference today, Lim reiterated that the state government could not accept the reason (to omit Question Time) was to save time.

“No justification not to allow Question Ttime,” he told newsmen.

However, as the Chief Minister, Lim said he would take full responsibility for the House’s controversial decision, acknowledging that it was wrong not to have Question Time.

He said that Jagdeep’s appointment would not interfere into Law’s authority over the House affairs, neither was it done because the state government had lost confidence in Law.

He clarified that Jagdeep would be acting on behalf of state government only.

Previously, he had admitted that the state government made a mistake to agree to recommendations by senior government officers to omit Question Time.

He said Jagdeep’s appointment was to ensure that the government would not “just swallow all that have been recommended.”