Asfia: PSB to lead opposition bench in DUN, Soon Koh to be opposition leader

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Asfia speaking at a press conference this morning.

KUCHING (Nov 8): Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will be leading the opposition bench in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) which will be sitting starting tomorrow, as the party now has numerical superiority over Democratic Action Party (DAP), said DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

He said DAP initially had six state seats, the same with PSB, until Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei resigned from DAP on July 26.

“Now PSB has six (state seats) and DAP has five. With that numerical superiority, the changes in the seating arrangement in the Chambers of the DUN become unavoidable.

“The numerical superiority of PSB gives it an edge over DAP, and the leadership of the opposition in the Dewan inevitably changes,” said Asfia in a press conference after Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) DUN pre-council meeting here this morning.

The opposition bench was previously led by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who is chairman of Sarawak DAP. But after King Wei resigned from the party, DAP has one less seat than PSB.

On July 26, King Wei announced his resignation from DAP because he was disappointed with the party’s lack of achievements and not able to fulfill many of its election promises while being in the Federal government for 22 months.

Furthermore, Asfia added, PSB president and Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh had served five terms as an Honourable Member of DUN and is currently in his sixth term, while Chong had served two terms and is currently in his third term.

“This gives Soon Koh the seniority to occupy the seat of leader of the opposition,” he said.

He explained that the seating arrangement in the DUN was determined by the Speaker pursuant to Standing Order 2.

“Standing Order 2 reads: On the first day of the meeting of the Dewan after a general election or prorogation and thereafter, members shall be seated in accordance with such arrangements as may be determined by the Speaker whose decision thereon shall be final,” Asfia said.

Asked how the seating arrangement for the opposition will be in the DUN, he said they will be seated according to blocks.

Asfia said PSB elected representatives will be sitting in front, followed by DAP, King Wei and Krian assemblyman Ali Biju who is from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

The five-day DUN sitting will convene tomorrow and will end on Friday.