By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 11: Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar shot down the motions raised by Ba ke’lalan assemblyman Baru Bian and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How during the one-day Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Asfia explained the motions raised by both opposition assemblymen were in violation of the State Constitution.
Asfia expounded that under the State Constitution, See’s motion on the payment of State Sales Tax (SST) by national oil corporation Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is related to Sarawak’s special interests and rights in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Therefore, he said the matter has to be consulted first through the establishment of a consultative committee comprising all parties before it can be deliberated further in DUN.
“Unanimously, DUN had passed a ministerial motion under Standing Order 89 and Article 24 (1) of the State Constitution of Sarawak on the establishment of a consultation committee comprising all political parties to determine and agree on matters relating to special interests and rights of Sarawak under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Only after such matters being discussed, the consultative committee shall advice this august house on the course of action this house shall embark.
“Therefore, this motion has to be referred to the consultative committee first before it is brought to the (august) house.
“The motion is dismissed,” he said during the one day DUN sitting here today.
See tabled a private member motion requesting DUN to debate on the recent agreement reached by the Sarawak government and Petronas.
Both the Sarawak Government and Petronas have reached an amicable settlement of five per cent SST on petroleum products in Sarawak recently.
Both parties have agreed that the best approach to achieving a common solution is through commercial solutions by creating a more stable business and investment environment.
Following the withdrawal of all legal proceedings, Petronas through its subsidiaries, will make full payment of the SST imposed by the Sarawak Government on petroleum products for 2019 amounting to RM2 billion at five per cent of SST on the sales of the oil and gas products.
Meanwhile, Baru tabled a private member motion calling on the Sarawak government to include the allocation for the three packages of Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid in the 2020 supplementary budget.
In response, Asfia said Baru’s motion had also violated the State Constitution.
Asfia explained that Baru’s motion violated Standing Order 67 (4), 67 (7) and 67 (8) of the State Constitution of Sarawak.
He said the motion sought to make amendment to the Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020, and under the three Standing Orders above, no debate shall be allowed in the introduction and reading of the Supplementary Supply Bill. — DayakDaily
