By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 8: Five government bills are to be tabled in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting that is scheduled to commence tomorrow (Nov 9) until Nov 13.
Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the bills to be tabled are the Supply (2021) Bill, 2020, Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020, Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Bill, 2020, Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Supply Bill, which is the state budget, will be tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also Finance and Economic Planning Minister, with the first and second readings to be held on Nov 9, and the third reading on Nov 13.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Minister of Finance II, will table the Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020 with the first reading scheduled for Nov 9, and second and third readings on Nov 11.
The Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease, 2019 (Covid-19) Bill, 2020 will also be presented by Uggah, with all three readings scheduled for Nov 9.
On the same day, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian will table the Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will table the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2020 with the bill’s first reading on Nov 9, second and third readings on Nov 10.
The usual 10-day DUN sitting had been shortened to five days due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the state, especially in Kuching which is now categorised as a Covid-19 red zone with 151 local transmission cases recorded in the past 14 days as of yesterday.
Mohamad Asfia also revealed that as of Oct 26, a total of 342 questions (both for oral and written replies) were received from 45 honourable members of the House with the Chief Minister’s Department receiving the highest number of questions at 68.
As at yesterday (Nov 7), 47 annual reports, financial statements, Hansards, voted and proceedings and six command papers have been submitted to the DUN Secretary.
Four days have been set aside for the ‘Questions and Answers’ session, from Nov 9 to 12, whilst the Election of Senator is to be held on Nov 10.
On the last day of the sitting on Nov 13, there will be three winding-up speeches by Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Awang Tengan Ali Hasan, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Uggah in the morning session.
Then, the DUN sitting will end with a winding-up speech by Abang Johari at 3pm. — DayakDaily
