By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 15: The Second Session of the First Term of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting will commence for eight days from May 17 until May 26, 2022.
DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar today said there would be no sittings during the weekend (May 21 and May 22).
“The sitting will start with an opening ceremony by His Excellency Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who will inspect the Guard-of-Honour at the DUN Complex’s parade ground upon his arrival.
“After that, he will proceed to the DUN chambers on the eighth floor to deliver his maiden speech and attend a State lunch at the Atrium of the second floor later.
“Then, the members of the House will gather for a photo session in front of the main entrance of the DUN Complex,” he said at a press conference held at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Headquarters in Jalan Bako today.
He also mentioned that a State banquet in conjunction with the opening of the DUN sitting would be held in the evening of the same day.
Asfia further informed that there would be question and answer sessions, the tabling of motion for the election of a Senator, and debates on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak’s address.
“The question and answer session will be held for four days from May 18 until May 23.
“Until the closing date for submission of motions on April 29, 284 questions seeking oral replies were submitted by 29 members and 63 written replies were submitted by 15 members,” he added.
The DUN sitting will also witness the election of a Senator on May 18, while the debate on the motion of appreciation for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak’s address will commence from May 19 until May 26.
During the debate, priorities will be given to 17 newly elected members to deliver their maiden speeches.
Asfia also said there would be three Bills tabled for this sitting, namely Supplementary Supply (2022) Bill, 2022 by Deputy Premier-cum-Second Minister for Finance and New Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Land Code (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; and Forests (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by Deputy Premier-cum-Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The DUN has also received a Private Member’s Motion under Standing Order 23 from Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How on the Continental Shelf and Territorial Sea Act.
A total of 17 Annual Financial Reports and four Command Papers will be presented during this sitting. — DayakDaily
