KUCHING, June 4: The salaries of elected members of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) as well as assistant ministers should be halted as the DUN will automatically expire after June 6, despite the Emergency order, claims PBK president Voon Lee Shan.
The Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president was of the opinion that even though the term of the Sarawak State Cabinet has been extended due to the Emergency order in place until August, it however does not mean that the “life” of the State Legislature (DUN) is extended.
“The term of the State Legislature, which is governed by the Sarawak Constitution, will automatically expire in three days on June 6, 2021, despite the Emergency.
“Since the Legislature will automatically expire, the term of all YBs (elected members of the House), will also expire. With that, they should not be entitled to any salaries and allowances.
“Assistant ministers should not receive any salaries and allowances as they are not (entitled) by virtue of Article 7A (of the) Sarawak Constitution.
“Unless appointed or re-appointed by TYT (Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) as assistant ministers to hold office until the next DUN (State Legislative Assembly), assistant ministers shall have no right to receive further salaries and allowances after June 6, 2021,” he claimed in a statement today.
However, Voon added that ministers could be entitled to salaries and allowances, while the DUN Speaker’s pay will not be affected as its terms of office have been extended.
Since the office of elected members automatically expires after June 6, he emphasised that they should not be allowed to issue grants or Minor Rural Project (MRP) funds without any sanction of the legislature as well.
“This will be an abuse of democracy and the voters should punish them in coming elections, if they do so,” he said.
On the expiration of Sarawak DUN, Voon also cast doubt if the King has power under the emergency order to push back the election beyond 60 days, highlighting that Sarawak must hold an election within 60 days from June 7 as per Article 21(4) of the Sarawak Constitution.
“The matter has to be tested in court. There is no provision in the Sarawak Constitution for the King to interfere with the life of the (State) Legislature (DUN) because this power solely lies with TYT.
“If the King interferes, this may spark political controversies and (the matter may) be politicised by all quarters. This may give an impression that the Sarawak government has no autonomy at all in running the State,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, on May 25, the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a statement informing that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has advised the Sarawak state government to continue functioning as usual although the term of the DUN ends after June 6.
The King stated that the state government had the power to continue functioning during the Emergency period as allowed by His Majesty through the (Emergency) declaration effective from last Jan 11 until this Aug 1.
His Majesty has made the advice in view of the worrying Covid-19 situation in the country including Sarawak. — DayakDaily
