GEORGE TOWN: After over a decade without its ceremonial mace, the Penang Legislative Assembly will see a new one grace the House when it convenes today.

       Penang state assembly speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said the House decided to reinstate the tradition and commissioned one to be made last year.

       Called “cokmar” in Bahasa Malaysia, he said the sceptre was usually symbolically brought into the Hall as the Speaker walks in and was then placed at the centre of the House.

       “It will be carried out when the Speaker exits. This is repeated daily during every sitting,” Law said.

       “It is a tradition we should follow. And since both our city councils have their own sceptres, it seems odd that the state legislative assembly is not following the custom,” he said.

       He said there was such a sceptre years ago but somehow the practice stopped along the way.

       “When the state government changed in 2008 and we inherited the hall, it was not there anymore.”

       Parliaments and legislative assemblies the world over use ceremonial maces as a symbol of their legislative might.

       In medieval times, such maces were actual weapons, stamped with the royal coat of arms of the land.

       Although strictly symbolic and ceremonial today, many legislative assemblies treat their maces with such reverence that they would not enact laws without the mace present.

       Law said since Penang now has a new governor, it was apt to revive the tradition as well.

       The new mace is 1.52m long, gold-plated and with ornate symbols representing Penang.

       “We did make references to sceptres from other states.

       “The artisans gave us three or four different options before we chose one.

       “It is not too heavy, about 10kg,” he said.

       The pandemic hobbled the artisans’ progress and it took around nine months to finish it.

       “We only received it this month. So what you will see is brand new.

       “The design is highly detailed. It was made in Kuala Lumpur by experts who are usually commissioned to make such official pieces.”

       The Penang State Legislative Assembly convenes today in the newly upgraded state assembly building.

       Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak will open the meeting, which will be held physically until Sept 8.