Published: Tuesday July 17, 2012 MYT 8:00:00 PM

Kedah govt criticised for ending assembly sitting quickly

By YUEN MEIKENG

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA has hit out at the Kedah government for hastily concluding the state assembly sitting, calling it an attempt to conceal weaknesses in the leadership.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said he was “amazed” with the expediency of the Kedah government in disposing issues affecting the state's residents.

He said only five out of 50 questions tabled were replied speedily within 78 minutes after the state assembly sitting began.

“Rather than disclosing facts or remedies on issues, rapidly concluding the state sitting is an attempt to conceal the Mentri Besar's and his exco's pathetic leadership when drafting and executing policies,” said Chor, who is also Alor Star MP.

“They are probably aware of their dismal performance. Incapable of churning out any reasonable or appropriate answers, they have to resort to adjourning the session as quickly as possible to escape from dealing with festering issues and public criticism,” he said.

It was reported that Kedah Opposition leader Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had said the PAS-led Kedah government had failed to answer pressing issues during the state assembly sitting.

He said during the short sitting, the state only managed to answer five questions while pressing issues went unanswered.

The session, which started at 9am, adjourned sine die at 10.30am on Monday.

Chor, who is Housing and Local Government Minister, said if the Kedah state assembly sitting was supposed to reflect Pakatan Rakyat's democratic ideals, then the haste in disposing issues was purely symbolic and “bereft of value.”

“The Kedah state government's method of addressing daily issues contrasts with that of the Barisan Nasional federal government, whereby the last day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting on April 20 was stretched until 3.20am the following morning.

“Despite the heavy session, major issues like the Printing Presses and Publications Act were addressed and debated upon by both sides of the fence,” he said.

Among matters which Chor claimed were not addressed during the state assembly sitting were the unfulfilled promises to build low cost flats and uncontrolled logging in Baling's Gunung Inas Forest Reserve.

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