KUCHING: The fifth term of the 17th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting commenced with an opening ceremony which saw august house members from across the state converge at the DUN Complex here today.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Dato’ Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib arrived to attend the ceremony located at the compound of DUN Complex around 9.25am.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Patinggi Dato Jamilah Anu, had arrived about five minutes earlier.
Upon the Head of State’s arrival, local dignitaries including DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and his wife Datin Amar Fatimah Iskandar escorted him to the stage where the ceremony immediately began with the Royal Malaysian Police brass band playing the Sarawak anthem ‘Ibu Pertiwiku’.
Taib then inspected the Guard of Honour comprising 105 men from the General Operations Force (GOF) 11th Batallion before making his way into the DUN chambers to deliver his maiden speech for the first DUN sitting of the year.
In his speech, he touched on various issues including the state’s economy, transformation of rural areas, and environmental management among others. He also congratulated Adenan on his one year administration as the chief minister.
Once he concluded his speech, Asfia then adjourned the sitting.
Sitting resumes tomorrow with Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh tabling the first reading of the two supplementary supply bills while Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan will also table the forest bill.