KUCHING: Newly elected assemblypersons in the recent Sarawak State Election have taken their oath of office before State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar today.
The oath taking ceremony which took place in DUN chambers during the first day of sitting began at 9.23am, led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
This was then followed by deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian and senior ministers.
At a press conference at the DUN Complex on Saturday (Feb 12), Asfia said all 82 Honorable Members were invited to attend the oath taking ceremony with their spouses.
“Besides that, the three-day special DUN sitting is also in line with to fulfill the Constitutional requirement for the Dewan to have its first sitting within 120 days from the date of the dissolution of the Dewan.
“These 120 days’ constitutional requirement is pursuant to Article 21 (4) of the Sarawak Constitution.
“Whereby, Article 21 (4) of the Sarawak Constitution states, whenever the DUN is dissolved, a general election shall be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution and the new DUN shall summoned to meet on a date not later than 120 from that date,” he said.
The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition was returned as state government in the recent State Election by a landslide. They command 76 out of 82 seats in the state legislature.
