Abang Johari (seated left) and his cabinet all set for the meeting at PBB headquarters in Kuching. At right is Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas while next to Uggah is Asfia. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting next week will hold the tabling of only one bill – the Supply (2019) Bill, 2018.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, will table the 2019 budget on Monday (Nov 5).
According to DUN Sarawak Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, the first and second reading would be on Nov 5, while the third reading is fixed for Nov 14.
“The eight-day sitting is from Nov 5 to 14 – there is no sitting on Saturday and Sunday (Nov 10-11). The one Bill, which is Supply (2019) Bill, 2018, will be tabled by the Chief Minister,” he told reporters after a pre-DUN meeting at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday, chaired by Abang Johari.
Asfia also said a total of 367 questions for both oral and written replies have been received from 47 assemblypersons as at Oct 15.
According to him, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is the department that receives the highest number of questions – at 68.
Of the 367 questions, 291 are expecting oral replies – with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing topping the list of having the highest number – with 50 questions.
Under this segment (questions that expect oral replies) are the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation with 47 questions, followed by CMO with 43 questions, Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (36), Ministry of Utilities (34), Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (25), Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (23), Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports (20), Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (seven), Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (five), and Ministry of International Trade and E-Commerce (one).
Asfia said these questions were submitted by 42 assemblypersons.
He also provided a breakdown of the questions prompting written replies as the following: CMO (25), Ministry of Local Government and Housing (14), Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation (10), Ministry of Urban Development and Resource Planning (nine), Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (five), three each from Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development; Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research; and Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports; and one each from the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development; Ministry of International Trade and E-Commerce; Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; and Ministry of Utilities.
These questions were posed by 10 assembly persons, added Asfia.
“There will also be 23 annual reports and financial statements, one gazette and four command papers.”
To a question, Asfia said the gazette would be embargoed, adding: “I shall let the Chief Minister disclose that.”
Asfia said the DUN secretariat had also received four motions from three assemblymen – one each from Dr Ting Tiong Choon (Pujut) and David Wong (Pelawan), and two from See Chee How (Batu Lintang).
He said Dr Ting, in his motion, had demanded for all ministries to reply to every question – in either oral or written form – on or before the last day of the DUN sitting (Nov 14).
Dr Ting also suggested that the ministry that failed to reply in time should contribute RM10 for each day delayed in replying, and for it to channel the money to a charitable organisation nominated by the member.