Sarawak State Assembly to sit for only five days, says Speaker

KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, which was originally planned to take place from Nov 9 to 18, will only be held for five days until Nov 13 due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, said Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar today.

He said the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had sent him a notification to request for the period of the sitting to be shortened in view of the recent spikes in new cases of the disease in the state.

“There is a sharp increase in the COVID-19 cases as they continuously spiralling and showing no signs of abating, thereby compelling the (DUN) sitting to reduce the days to five days,” he told a media conference here.

Following this decision, he said that ministerial replies would not be conducted individually but would all be answered by the Chief Minister during his winding-up speech.

“Every Honourable Member, Members of the Cabinet and all those who enter the (DUN) Chambers, including the Speaker, must take a swab test. This will be done on Nov 6 and 7,” he said, adding that the DUN building would also be disinfected and sanitised a day before and after the sitting with transparent barriers to be set between assembly members at their seats.

Mohamad Asfia said the State Budget 2021 is expected to be tabled on the first day of this sitting and the members of the House would be allowed to debate on it from Nov 11, as provided under Standing Order 65(2) of the state assembly.

On another issue, he said Sarawak has until Aug 5 next year to hold its 12th State Election and this is provided under Article 21(3) of the State Constitution, which stated that “the DUN shall unless sooner dissolved continues for five years from the date of the first meet sitting and shall then stand dissolved”.

“Therefore the tenure of the DUN expired on June 6, 2021. If it expired by June 6, 2021, under Article 21 Clause 4, it has an extension of 60 days,” he said, explaining further that the five-year term commenced from the date of the first sitting of the DUN (June 7, 2016) after the last election.

“Whether the political parties are ready or not, you must have the election within 60 days (after the dissolution of the assembly). COVID-19 or not, you must have the election. It is constitutionally mandatory. No choice,” he added.

-- BERNAMA