KUCHING: Five Bills including one new Bill will be tabled in the first session of the third term of the 19th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) which will sit from May 6-15.
DUN speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the new Bill will be the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill, 2024 while the other bills that will be tabled are the Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill, 2024; Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill, 2024; The Protection of Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
“Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas will be tabling three Bills namely the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill, 2024; Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill, 2024; and Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill, 2024,” he said during a press conference at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here Saturday.
He added that The Protection of Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will be tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian while Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will be tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
“The first reading of all the Bills will be done on the second day of the DUN sitting which is on Tuesday (May 7).
“The second and third reading of the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill, 2024; The Protection of Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will be done on the same day (May 7).
“Meanwhile the Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill, 2024; and Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill, 2024 will be done on May 9,” he said.
Touching on the tabling of Sarawak Ports Authority Bill, 2024, Asfia said that it seeks to streamline and consolidate the management, operation, planning, and development of all port authorities in the State under a new central port authority known as the ‘Sarawak Ports Authority’.
He added that it is also to reform the governance structure and regulatory framework of port operations in Sarawak, including the harmonisation of port dues, vessel dues, port charges, and fees.
“Other than that, it seeks to make provisions for the privatisation of port management and operation, and port undertakings in Sarawak,” he said.
Asfia disclosed that the DUN has received 352 questions from 43 members and that 267 would get oral replies and 85 written replies.
He said the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government received the highest number of questions – 49 questions.
For the record, the DUN sitting will begin on Monday (May 6) until Wednesday (May 15) with the weekends being exceptions.
The DUN session will begin with an opening speech by the Head of State on May 6 followed by a question and answer session from May 7 to May 10.
The session this time around will have one motion of thanks for the former Head of State which will be moved by the Premier on May 8 followed by motion of appreciation on the Head of State’s address tabled by Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira and seconded by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap.
The appreciation debate will be held from May 8 to 10 while the winding up speeches by the ministers will be from May 13 to 15.
