KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has suggested that the proposed anti-hopping law, once passed, must first get the consent from Sarawak before it is extended to the state.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the premier had brought up the proposal during an engagement session recently.
“What our premier suggested is that for the law to be imposed on the state, it must have the state’s consent.
“It was a very good and far-sighted suggestion by our Premier. And we have agreed on that,” he told reporters after attending a breaking-of-fast ceremony with the community held at Grand Margherita Hotel on Sunday (Apr 17).
He explained that once the law is passed in Parliament and the provision is there, it cannot be enforced right away.
“For instance, it will be where the King will discuss with the respective Head of States or Sultan of that State and in the case of Sarawak, the King will discuss with the Head of State and then the Head of State on the advice of the Premier can agree to the legislation.
“Then from there, the Head of State will inform the King, only then it can be extended to Sarawak, otherwise it cannot be (enforced),” he said.
He said that he fully agreed with the premier on the matter and believed that nobody would dispute it.
“I stand on the same ground with our Premier on the question of the autonomy of the state to decide on our own law and not for the federal to decide for us,” he said.
Wan Junaidi noted that certain parties had proposed for the Bill to be relooked into.
“Therefore, I proposed that a parliamentary select committee be formed to study the Bill,” he said.
He said that the committee has already met on April 15 and there will be three more meetings on April 21, 22 and 26.
