CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow came to the defence of his three state executive councillors, who were absent during the Budget 2020 tabling session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
He said the three exco members – Dr Afif Bahardin, Zairil Khir Johari and Yeoh Soon Hin – have their own commitments to attend to which came as a no surprise.
For Dr Afif, who is in charge of the state Health, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee, Chow said Dr Afif was offered a ‘lifetime chance’ to attend a leadership programme in United States of America (USA).
He said the six-week programme offered a great chance for Dr Afif to expand his invaluable experience.
“Dr Afif had discussed with me and I know it’s an opportunity for him. In fact, I had also attended such an event back in 2001.
“It is best for him to attend the programme as the state assembly sittings are held every year but not for the fellowship programme,” he said at the sidelines of the state assembly sitting in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
For Zairil, Chow said the state Works, Public Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman attended a two-day meeting in Paris, France and was on his way back to Penang.
He said the meeting in Paris was important to obtain funding for flood mitigation and road infrastructure projects.
As for Yeoh, Chow said the state Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman was in India.
“This is a non-issue as Yeoh is in India for a project to promote Penang,” he added.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis & Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud