By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Feb 13: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will seek to rename the position of “Chief Minister” as “Premier” in Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
This can be done through amending Article 6(3) of the Sarawak Constitution by substituting the words “Chief Minister” with “Premier” by DUN which will convened from Feb 14 to 16 (Monday to Wednesday).
According to Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the bill known as the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022, will be tabled on Tuesday (Feb 15).
The bill once passed will come into force on a date to be appointed by the Yang-di-Pertua Negeri by notification in the Gazette.
DUN Speaker Tan Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar on Saturday (Feb 12) announced that five bills would be tabled during this upcoming DUN sitting.
Apart from the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to be tabled by Abdul Karim, the other four bills include the Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill, 2022; Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022; and Sarawak Rubber Industry Board Bill, 2022.
The Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill, 2022 will be tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Finance Minister II, with the first reading scheduled for Feb 15, and the second and third readings on Feb 16.
It was noted that there would be no amendments or debates on the Supplementary Supply Bill.
The Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 will be tabled by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, with all three readings on Feb 15.
Meanwhile, Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom will table both the Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022, and Sarawak Rubber Industry Board Bill, 2022.
The two agriculture-related Bills are scheduled to be read for the first time on Feb 15 while and the second and third readings will take place on Feb 16. — DayakDaily
