BN to ‘surprise’ opposition

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Asfia (right) shares a light moment with Adenan after the press conference.

Chief Minister says ruling coalition will reply all matters raised and launch counterattacks

KUCHING: Sarawak BN will strike back at the opposition with ‘surprises’ when the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sits from tomorrow till April 29.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the BN would not only reply to matters raised by the opposition members but launch counterattacks, too.

Speaking at a press conference after chairing the state BN pre-council meeting and PBB Supreme Council meeting here yesterday, he said BN would also ask the Speaker to reject several motions.

“We are ready for them … more than ready, and there are a few surprises waiting for them. We will ask the Speaker to reject some stupid motions. We will ask him, not tell him, what to do.

“We believe some of the motions are for the sake of publicity only. They insisted because it’s a political ploy by them.” Adenan said one of the motions was on calling him (Adenan) the ‘Prime Minister of Sarawak’ and changing the name of DUN to Parliament.

“This is just stupid. (In addition) there are other motions that are not relevant to the state. They could have brought it to Parliament and not the state level because the matter is a federal matter.

“That particular member is not only a member of DUN but also an MP.”

Meanwhile, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, who was also present, said three Bills – Supplementary Supply (2014) Bill, 2015, Supplementary Supply (2015) Bill, and Forest Bill, 2015 would be tabled.

Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh will table the two supplementary supply bills – with first reading fixed on April 22, followed by the second and third reading on April 24. Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan is to first table the forest bill followed by the second and third reading all on April 22. Asfia said there were 335 questions from 39 members for oral and written replies.

One question from Kota Sentosa has been rejected for written reply. He said seven motions had been received under Standing Order 45. The first will be on application for leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen.

“This is over the terminology of Dayaks in reference to the races and sub-races in the Sarawak Interpretation Ordinance. The second motion by Kota Sentosa is under Standing Order 23, for the Unified Examination Certificate to be recognised by the state government and be equivalent to the Malaysian highest certificate.”

Asfia said Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck submitted three motions – the first asking for referendum for Sarawak, the second aimed to change the name of DUN to Parliament and the Chief Minister of Sarawak to Prime Minister of Sarawak, and the third to oppose the amendment of the Sedition Act and to repeal the Colonial Sedition Act.

The sixth motion on Hudud, Asfia said, would come from Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian. The motion, which he said would be “very long”, seeks that there should be no implementation of Hudud law in Sarawak.

“The last motion is under Standing Order 15, asking for adjournment of the meeting of the DUN in order to enable for this motion to be debated. This is to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. The favourite subject is Sacofa.”

On April 17, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How filed a private member’s motion to seek power for the DUN over the proposed sale of state-owned Sacofa Sdn Bhd to Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd.

While the motion of appreciation for the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri’s address will be proposed and seconded by Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Batu Danau Paulus Palu Gumbang respectively, the motion for adjournment will be done by Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang.

To a question, Asfia said: “He (Adenan) said he will ask the Speaker to reject some motions because some of the motions he considers to be frivolous.”

Asked how many motions would be rejected, he said: “I have not made up my mind yet because I will ask them to read out the motions then I will make my ruling.

“I cannot reject the motions outside Dewan. The motions must be accepted or rejected in the Dewan.”