KUCHING, Nov 19: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes that the Constitution of State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2020 could be gazetted before the 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12) to ensure the exclusivity of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) membership to be confined only to Sarawakians.
He said the gazettement of any bill would depend on the government of the day and it could be done within one month or even two weeks.
“There is a process of a bill becomes law. It has already been endorsed. To amend a constitution you need at least two-thirds majority, and it has already gone through that.
“Then, there is this process of gazette and referral to the head of State… That will take its due course in time.
“Well, it can be done in one month or it can be done even in two weeks. It depends on the government of the day, but I would love to see this bill to put to become law (before the next Sarawak election),” he told Dayakdaily here today.
Abdul Karim who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president emphasized that the spirit and intent of the amended bill introduced and subsequently passed in the DUN was in line with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) policy to safeguard Sarawak’s interests.
The current term of the DUN expires on June 6, 2021 and thereafter it has 60 days for the state election to be held. — DayakDaily
