By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 24: Three new bills — Strata (Subsidiary Title), Strata Management and on Sarawak heritage — are expected to be tabled at the upcoming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting scheduled for Nov 3 to 14.
Apart from the three new bills, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar disclosed that the three other government bills which will be tabled are Supply (2020) Bill 2019, Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2019 and Natural Resources and Environment (Amendment) Bill 2019.
“So far, we have not received any motion as of today. (There are) Eight annual reports and financial statements and one command paper,” he told the press today after the state pre-council meeting which was chaired by Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here today.
“The Strata Subsidiary Title and Strata Management bills are interrelated and interwovened so they will be debated on the same day,” he added.
The Supply Bill, which is the state budget, will be tabled by the Chief Minister, who is also the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Minister of Urban Planning and Natural Resources, with the first and second readings on Nov 4 while the third reading will be on Nov 13.
The Strata (Subsidiary Title) Bill 2019 will be tabled by the Deputy Chief Minister and Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, Minister of International Trade and Industrial, Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan with the first reading on Nov 4 while the second and third readings ara on Nov 5.
The Natural Resources and Environment (Amendment) Bill 2019, will also be tabled by Awang Tengah, with first, second and third readings on Nov 4.
The Strata Management Bill 2019 will be tabled by Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian with the first reading on Nov 4, while the second and third readings are on Nov 5.
The Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be tabled by Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulfilip with the first reading on Nov 4, while the second and third readings are on Nov 5.
The Sarawak Heritage Bill 2019 will be tabled by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah with the first reading on Nov 4, while the second and third readings are on Nov 5.
Mohamad Asfia also revealed that as of Oct 18, a total of 372 questions (both for oral and written replies) were received from 48 honourable members with the Chief Minister’s Department receiving the highest number of questions at 75.
“Out of there 372 questions, one question has been rejected; therefore the accepted total questions are 371,” he said.
He revealed that the question from Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian was rejected based on the technical grounds.
“When you ask a question, you cannot ask a question to ascertain the veracity of the question as reported in the media. Secondly, you do not need to name a person where it is not necessary to name the person,” he said.
“Furthermore, the question must not cast aspersion on the person himself. So on these grounds, the question is rejected,” he added.
On the status of Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, he said: “Member of Padungan is still suspended for one year, so he cannot come (to DUN).”
Deputy DUN Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala and DUN secretary Pele Peter Tinggom were also present. — DayakDaily
