READY FOR DUN: (From left) PKR’s Krian assemblyman Ali Biju, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How looking dapper in their DUN official attire while attending the opening ceremony of the first sitting of the fifth session of 17th State Legislative Assembly. — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: The fifth session of the 17th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting commenced with an opening ceremony which saw members of the august house from across the state converge on the DUN Complex here yesterday.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Dato’ Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib arrived to attend the ceremony at the compound of DUN Complex around 9.25am.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Patinggi Dato Jamilah Anu, arrived about five minutes earlier.
Upon his arrival, local dignitaries including DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and his wife Datin Amar Fatimah Iskandar escorted the Head of State to the stage where the ceremony 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 Battalion before proceeding to 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.
He also congratulated Adenan on his one year as the chief
minister. After the TYT’s speech, Asfia adjourned the sitting.
It resumes today 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 table the forest bill.