KUCHING, February 14, 2022 - Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg led 79 state assemblymen in taking their oath of loyalty to the state and country and pledge to uphold the State and Federal Constitutions at a ceremony at the State Assembly building today.
The oath-taking ceremony was held before the House Speaker Tan Sri Asfia Awang Nasar.
Abang Johari, who is also Gedong State Assemblyman, was followed by Deputy Chief Minister (1) and Bukit Saban State Assemblyman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
However, three State Assemblymen Datuk Sebastian Ting (Piasau), Datuk Len Talif Salleh (Kuala Rajang) and Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii (Repok) could not make it to the oath-taking as they are currently under home quarantine as patients under surveillance (PUS) after having close contacts with Covid-19 positive cases.
Asfia said he has granted leave of absence to Len Talif and Huang for the whole of the three-day sitting of the State Assembly while Ting was given leave of absence for today and tomorrow’s sittings.
Five bills will be tabled and debated tomorrow and on Wednesday.
Picture: Deputy Chief Minister and State Assemblyman for Bukit Saban Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah
The bills include the Sarawak Constitution (Amendment) Bill and Interpretation (Amendment) Bill.
The Constitution amendment bill seeks to rename the words “Chief Minister” with the word “Premier” in line with the recent amendment to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution that restored the status of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners to Malaya in the Federation.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will tabled the bill tomorrow.
The Interpretation bill will be tabled by the Assistant Minister in the Assistant Minister of Law, Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and State-Federal Relations Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
The bill seeks to define a person, who is a citizen and is a natural child of a parent of race indigenous to Sarawak and satisfies the conditions and requirements imposed by the State Cabinet for recognition of such a person, as a native of Sarawak.
The races defined as natives to Sarawak are Bidayuh or Land Dayaks, Bukitan, Bisayah, Dusun, Ibans or Sea Dayaks’, Kadayan, Kelabit, Kayan, Kenyah (including Sabup and Sipeng), Kajang (including Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Punan, Tanjong and Kanowit), Lugat, Lisum, Malay, Melanau, Murut or Lun Bawang, Penan, Sian, Tagal, Tabun, Ukit and any admixture of these races with one another.
In the state election held on December 18, 2021 Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) swept 76 out of the 82 State Assembly seats, while the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won four and DAP Sarawak, two seats.
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