BY TANIA LAM & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: The 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting adjourned sine die at 5.01pm today after three days.
A total of five Bills were passed during the three-day DUN sitting.
Two of the Bills – the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 – were both passed on Tuesday (Feb 15).
Among the landmark changes through the passing of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was the change in the designation and style of Sarawak’s top leader from “Chief Minister” to “Premier”.
It also involved changing “Assistant Minister” to “Deputy Minister” as well as amending the interpretation of “the Federation” in the State Constitution.
Another milestone was allowing children of mixed marriages to be considered natives of the state if either of their parents is a native, through the passing of the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Also through the passing of this Bill, 12 more indigenous groups are now recognised as native races of Sarawak – namely the Bagatan, Bakong, Bemali, Berawan, Dali, Lakiput, Jatti Miriek, Narom, Sa’ban, Tatau, Tring, and Vaie.
Three more Bills – the Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill, 2022; Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022; and Sarawak Rubber Industry Board Bill, 2022 – were all passed on Wednesday.
The first day of the DUN sitting on Monday (Feb 14) saw the oath-taking ceremony of assemblypersons who were elected in the recently concluded 12th Sarawak state election on Dec 18.
On the last day of the DUN sitting, Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh before beginning his debate speech on the Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022 congratulated newly appointed DUN Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang for his appointment.
“Congratulations on your appointment. Yours is the most deserving case,” he said.
Meanwhile, when debating on the Sarawak Rubber Industry Board Bill, 2022, Engkilili assemblyman
Dr Johnical Rayong, he said that he 100 per cent supported the tabling of the Bill.
Before calling the next person to debate on the same Bill, Asfia said that Johnical was a very attractive opposition member.
Dr Rundi, then when presenting his winding-up of the Bill, said that he acknowledged the friendship with Johnical.
Apart from that, before adjourning the sitting, Asfia said that the sitting had been carried out smoothly and in an organised manner, and this was the result of the cooperation of everyone including the respective state assemblypersons.
This three-day DUN sitting coincided with two significant occasions – Valentine’s Day on Feb 14 and Chap Goh Mei on Feb 15.
