By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 15: Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang has proposed for the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to be called “Dewan Parliament Sarawak” and members of the State Assembly be called “Members of Sarawak Parliament”.
Since Sarawak is recognised as one of the three entities that formed Malaysia, he thus hopes that a Bill to amend the Constitution of the State of Sarawak on this matter will be introduced in the august House in the near future.
Gira raised this when debating the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which seeks to amend Article 6(3) and Article 7A to rename the title of Chief Minister to “Premier” and Assistant Minister to “Deputy Minister” in the DUN Sitting today.
“With the amendments, Sabah and Sarawak are not the same status with the states in Malaya. In other words, Malaysia consists of three regions namely Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
“The amendment of the State Constitution is at the right time. We, the head of the government in Sarawak or Sabah, do not hold the same status of the heads of government of states in Malaya. For example, Penang Chief Minister or Menteri Besar Selangor is totally different, compare to the status head of Sarawak government because Sarawak is one of the regions in Malaysia,” he said.
Since Sarawak is one of the regions in Malaysia as recognised in the Federal Constitution following the gazettement of the amendments, Gira is in support of the head of the Sarawak government to be called a “Premier” instead of Chief Minister.
In the amendment of the title of Assistant Minister to Deputy Minister, he also agreed that it is more appropriate that an Assistant Minister be called Deputy Minister because the job is to undertake the duties of a minister in the absence of the minister.
While for assistant, he said it is more often associated to person who directly executes the responsibilities than delegating them.
“With the amendment to this Bill, I believe this will strengthen the position of Sarawak in Malaysia. Sarawak shall bargain for more autonomy such as bigger allocation in the Federal budget, education and health.
“With ‘Sarawak First’ slogan, I believe all Sarawakians have high hopes for inclusivity and given equal opportunity in any fields. I have confidence Sarawak will able to become a developed State by year 2030 under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” he said in supporting the Bill. — DayakDaily
