By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Aug 4: The 2022 State Budget will not be tabled and approved at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) as no sittings are allowed during the Sarawak emergency which runs from August 2 until February 2, 2022.
Sarawak DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who is also the Finance and Economic Planning Minister and State financial authorities are given the power to approve the 2022 State Budget given the suspension of DUN under the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021.
“In respect of the State Budget required for 2022, the need to get approval from the State Legislative is immaterial.
“This is clearly stipulated in Section 11 of the current Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021.
“Section 11 reads…’notwithstanding any provision in the Constitution of the State of Sarawak relating to expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, any expenditure requiring an ordinance or a resolution of the Dewan Undangan Negeri, and withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the State for so long as the emergency is in force, any such expenditure or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the State may be made with the approval of the Chief Minister or State financial authority, as the case may be…. provided by any written law or any treasury instructions….. relating thereto for the time being in force’,” he said during a special press conference at the Sarawak DUN complex here today.
Under normal circumstances, the State Budget is tabled at a DUN sitting in October or November each year.
In view of the Sarawak emergency which runs until February next year, Mohamad Asfia disclosed that the 2022 State Budget will not be required to be tabled at Sarawak DUN under the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021.
Sarawak DUN deputy speaker Dato Gerawat Gala was also present at the press conference. — DayakDaily
