Abdullah (fifth left) together with members of BNBBC and the media posing for a group photo after the conclusion of the BNBBC media night at Grand Margherita Hotel. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Abdullah (left) being presented with a flower from Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo when belting out a number during the BNBBC media night.
Abdullah (right) presenting the lucky draw grand prize, which is a Samsung Galaxy Tab S, to Utusan Sarawak reporter Fenny Silong.
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club (BNBBC) has been urged by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to be more vocal and avoid rhetoric politics in the next State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
State BNBBC chairman Abdullah Saidol revealed that Adenan had expressed his concern that some backbenchers were rather low key in the August House.
“From now on, all the backbenchers are required to do extra homework and be better prepared to debate with facts and avoid rhetoric politics,” said Abdullah when met by reporters during the BNBBC media night at Grand Margherita Hotel on Monday night.
He anticipated that the DUN sitting this month to be much awaited by the people in view of the next state election, and hoped that questions raised by them (backbenchers) would get satisfactory response from the respective ministers.
“He (Adenan) has also advised BNBBC members to be the voice of the people in their respective constituencies and elaborate more on the debates by holding press conferences in the media room,” he added.
On another note, Abdullah believed that all state representatives had submitted their questions to the DUN but was unclear if any motion had been submitted by the opposition.
“Despite being in the dark over this matter, we will try to anticipate what they (opposition) will raise during the sitting,” said Abdullah, adding that BN would be at an advantage due to the two-thirds majority in the Assembly.
On Hudud law, which could be expected to be raised by the opposition, he was quick to say that no motion on the matter needed to be tabled as everyone is aware that it is not a local issue.
“Our chief minister has mentioned it loud and clear many times that Hudud law will never be implemented in Sarawak. If the opposition wants to raise this issue, it should be brought up in Parliament and not in our Dewan (DUN),” he added.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said any minister would be free to ask about the progress of the state government’s demand for an increase in oil royalty.
“If you look at the motion which was unanimously passed in our Dewan (Assembly), it also includes the federal’s consideration to bring in any form of benefits to the state such as scholarships and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes besides the increase of oil royalty,” he added.
Among the latest developments, he said, was the announcement of the RM2 billion worth of oil and gas contracts to Sarawak.