By Ling Hui and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 16: The august House is not the place for “stand-up comedy”, said Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman after Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong’s antics in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex yesterday (Feb 15) where she compared the ‘Premier’ designation to a tissue brand.
The Tupong assemblyman said her behaviour was disrespectful to the DUN and should not have taken place during such serious sessions.
“The august House is supposed to be an avenue for representative to debate and discuss serious matters with regards to Sarawak and the people of Sarawak.
“Violet (Yong) by doing so has ridiculed the august House. If she is trying to be a stand-up comedian, it is not the place to do so,” he told DayakDaily when asked to comment through a text message today.
He said the actions of all elected representatives in DUN, whether good or bad, is open for scrutiny by the people, so “let the people judge what she’s doing”.
Yong brought up the Premier tissue brand during the debate on Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which includes an amendment, amongst others, to Article 6(3) of the State Constitution to replace the ‘Chief Minister’ title to ‘Premier’.
She also related the word ‘Premier’ with Premier credit cards and a commercial hub called Premier 101 here in Kuching, arguing that ‘Premier’ if taken as a title would be confusing to the people.
In response to this claim, Fazzrudin who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) youth deputy chief, reiterated that the title change which will be enforced once the Bill is gazetted, symbolises Sarawak’s elevated status in the Federation of Malaysia.
He said it is not meaningless but a recognition to distinguish Sarawak from the states of Peninsular Malaysia, consequential to the amendment to the Federal Constitution.
“It is important for the people to understand how the Premier title came about and the real reasons behind it,” he said during press conference following the adjournment of the DUN sitting today.
Meanwhile, PBB youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu applauded the passing of all five government Bills in the three-day DUN sitting which ended today.
The bills are the Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill, 2022; Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022; and Sarawak Rubber Industry Board Bill, 2022. — DayakDaily
