Red Tie & Polka Dot Tie

The August Penang State Assembly swearing ceremony had been turned into a Pakatan Rakyat fashion show.

I always thought ties for formal wear should be dark blue or black. That is what we were told when Gerakan was leading the state government.

Apparently, there are no need for protocols, anythings goes - polka dot ties, red ties, semua pun bolehlah. If that is the case, better close the Protocol Department, transfer the officers to other departments and save some money for Penangites. LGE always like to show off his money saving capability, this is one thing that he could do.

Note: I have no intention of insinuating anyone as a monkey. Coincidently, while searching the internet for a model with a polka dot tie, this was the first image found. If you do not believe me, do a google image search with the phrase "polka dot tie".

Saturday May 3, 2008
Penang’s 40 reps sworn in
By CHRISTINA CHIN, NG SU ANN and ONG YEE TING

DRESSED in formal official attire, 40 Penang state assemblymen were sworn in yesterday in a simple two-hour ceremony.

The 29 Pakatan Rakyat and 11 Barisan Nasional elected representatives took their oath before Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain at the state assembly building on Light Street.

Earlier, Abdul Halim, a non-assemblyman from PKR, was elected Speaker while Machang Bubuk assemblyman Tan Hock Leong, also from PKR, was elected deputy Speaker.

Dressed in a Baju Melayu and songkok ensemble, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee drew much praises.

“My girlfriend got me the kain songket and I had the black Baju Melayu made specially for this occasion,” he smiled.

“I just got a hair cut after more than a month of letting it grow,” he said.

For the album: Assemblymen getting ready for a group photograph.

Sporting a white collared blue shirt, Batu Uban assemblyman VS Raveentharan said he was dressed in PKR colours.

With his orange-framed glasses, polka-dot tie and blue shirt, he was by far the most colourful character in the assembly.

Several DAP leaders, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih), Ng Wei Aik (Komtar), Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun), Danny Law (Batu Lanchang) and A. Ta-nasekharan (Bagan Dalam), opted for ties in the party’s colour – red.

Among those present to witness the event were Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong and state PKR chief and Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

With hand raised: Lim taking his oath at the swearing-in ceremony......