Sarawak legislative assembly to sit for only five days, says speaker

 

The Sarawak state legislative assembly sitting, which was originally planned to be held from Nov 9 to 18, will now only be held for five days until Nov 13, said Speaker Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar today.

Asfia (above) said Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had requested for him to shorten the sitting in view of the recent spikes of new Covid-19 cases in the state.

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

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 who enter the chambers, including the speaker, must take a swab test. This will be done on Nov 6 and 7,” he said.

He added that the assembly 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.

Asfia said the state budget for 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 state legislative assembly 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 state legislative assembly 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 assembly (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