By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, June 6: The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 which is in force takes precedence over all written laws and the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) will continue its term until August 1.
DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar in a press statement today said he shall inform the Election Commission’s chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh that DUN is not dissolved today (June 6) following the expiry of its term after Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah declared that the state of emergency will be until August 1.
“The Emergency Ordinance is supreme and takes precedence over the State Constitution and any other written laws pursuant to Article 150 (Proclamation of Emergency) of the Federal Constitution and Section 18 of the Emergency Ordinance.
“Section 18 of the Emergency Ordinance reads: “In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Ordinance and any other written law, the provisions of this Ordinance shall prevail and the conflicting or inconsistent provisions of such other written law shall be deemed to be superseded to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency,” he said.
Asfia disclosed that today is the last day of the term of the 18th Sarawak DUN.
He added that by tomorrow, Sarawak DUN should be dissolved pursuant to Article 21(3) of the State Constitution.
Nonetheless, Asfia noted that Article 21(3) of the State Constitution is suspended because it was taken over by the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
In the meantime, he said the remuneration for all elected representatives in Sarawak DUN will be payable by the Parliament until August 1.
He added the Parliament shall by law provides for all the remuneration of members of each House under Article 64 of the Federal Constitution.
Asfia disclosed that the remuneration for all Sarawak lawmakers shall be payable on the last day of each month or on such other days of the month as the State Financial Secretary may determine from time to time. — DayakDaily
