Latest news with #SarawakLegislativeAssembly
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Motion expected to be tabled at special DUN Sitting this July 7, says Abd Karim
Abdul Karim speaks to the media at the press conference. – Photo by Roystein Emmor SANTUBONG (June 21): A motion is expected to be introduced during the special one-day sitting of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) scheduled for this July 7, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Speaking at a press conference held during the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025 here today, the State Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said further details of the motion will be disclosed in due course. 'Well, we leave it to that day – it's not really far away. On July 7, there's going to be a special sitting of the DUN whereby there will be a motion introduced. 'You will know who is going to table the motion on that day or just a few days before that (and) on what actually is the motion,' he said. 'Sometimes it's good to keep the cat in the basket first.' The DUN had earlier issued a letter regarding the upcoming special sitting, signed by Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar. The letter was distributed to all DUN members but did not state the specific agenda for the sitting. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lead motion Special DUN sitting
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sarawak Legislative Assembly to hold special one-day sitting on July 7
KUCHING: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly will convene for a one-day sitting on July 7, confirms Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. "We are only informed that there will be a special sitting on July 7. It will be a one-day sitting," he told reporters on Friday (June 20). When asked what the agenda for the sitting would be, Sim said he did not have the details. "You have to ask the Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg)," he said. A notice, signed by Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, said the sitting of the fourth term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly was convened in line with the provision of Standing Order 8(3). According to the Sarawak constitution, the state legislative assembly was required to meet at least once every six months. Standing Order 8(3) provides that the legislature can meet at an earlier date should public interest require it. The state assembly's most recent meeting was held from May 19 to 28.
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Former assemblywoman slams dismissal of public scrutiny over S'wak leaders' overseas spending
Chang says more concerning was the Speaker's remarks that the travel costs were a 'pittance' and 'triviality' compared to the investments brought in by these overseas trips. SIBU (May 28): Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Nassar's decision to disallow the question raised by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong on the breakdown of the Premier and state Cabinet ministers' overseas trips expenses is an outright assault on the principles of transparency and accountability, which are the fundamentals of good governance. In stating this, former Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang said more concerning was the Speaker's remarks that the travel costs were a 'pittance' and 'triviality' compared to the investments brought in by these overseas trips. 'This rationale is deeply flawed and reflects a dismissive attitude towards public accountability. These overseas trips are public expenditures and funded by taxpayers' money. 'Every sen of these taxpayers' money must be subject to scrutiny, regardless of the amount,' she said in a statement. She also referred to the RM100 million being allocated to the Premier's Department for overseas duties in the latest Supplementary Supply Bill. Chang said the notion that the trips were necessary and the cost incurred did not need to be revealed because they were 'small' or offset by future investments was a dangerous precedent to the unchecked misuse of funds. 'Claims of investment returns do not, and cannot, in any circumstances negate the public's right to know how and why the public funds are being spent. It is therefore totally justified for Yong to request for the expenditures incurred from these overseas trips to be revealed to the public. 'This is to ensure transparency, to prevent misuse, and to protect the public interest. Denying this right not only disrespects and undermines the people's mandate for the elected representative in question but also erodes public trust in our democratic institutions.' Adding on, Chang said the DUN should not allow itself to be reduced to a rubber stamp for executive decisions, and must remain a platform for honest debate, scrutiny and accountability. She added it was the very place where legitimate inquiries, such as the one raised by Yong, are encouraged and not silenced. 'As it is, denying this request for such crucial information could further erode public trust in the current government.' DUN Irene Chang overseas travel expenses
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Dismissal of motion to review Premier, Cabinet's travel expenses a ‘planned charade', says Chong
Chong says what the Speaker did earlier today has undermined the function of the DUN on providing an oversight on the Executives. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 28): Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen is unhappy that a motion submitted by him at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) was dismissed by Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. In a statement, he said what the Speaker did earlier today has undermined the function of the DUN on providing an oversight on the Executives. 'The main reason it has come to such is because of the overpowering 80-2 majority the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) enjoys in the DUN sitting. If such unbalanced government to opposition ratio continues, more extravagance and wastage of public funds will be kept from public eyes and swept under the carpet,' said the Democratic Action Party Sarawak chairman. He was referring to the motion seeking review of the Speaker's decision to disallow the question by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong on the detailed expenses of the Premier and Cabinet ministers official overseas trips. Asfia had cited multiple procedural and substantive breaches under the DUN's Standing Orders in dismissing the motion. Chong was also unhappy that Asfia allowed Wilfred Yap (GPS-Kota Sentosa) to speak on the motion without even allowing him, the mover of the motion, to start debate on it. He described this as a 'planned charade'. 'He (Asfia) seems to have subscribed to the claim by ADUN for Kota Sentosa that I should go and ask the Prime Minister on the expenses of the Prime Minister and federal Cabinet ministers' official oversea trips. For the information of the Speaker and the ADUN for Kota Sentosa, information of the expenses of the Prime Minister and the federal ministers' official trip has been made public in a parliament answer. 'If the federal government can reply such a question in Parliament, there is no justification why the state government cannot reply such a question in DUN. The Speaker's reliance on foreign investment to justify the huge oversea trips expenditure of the state ministers is misplaced,' he said. He pointed out in the supplementary supply bill for 2025, it was mentioned the Premier's office alone needed RM100 million as its 'rental for air-chartered service'. He said that figure does not even include the expenses for official oversea trips of the other 10 ministers and 26 deputy ministers. 'Last year, the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Public Health alone, sought additional RM3 million for overseas trips. 'Even taking the Premier's office's RM100 million rental of air-chartered expenditure alone without counting the overseas trips of other ministries, it is still too extravagant given that the whole of the federal cabinet's oversea trips in 2024 was only RM44 million,' he said. Chong was referring to the ruling by Asfia on May 26 in dismissing a question by Yong concerning the overseas travel expenses. Asfia had stated that the costs involved were merely a 'pittance' and 'trivial' compared to the billions in foreign investments the state has successfully attracted. 'If we compare the foreign investment, the country attracted a total RM378.5 billion while Sarawak attracted RM14.12 billion – 3.7 per cent of the country's FDI. In contrast, the RM100 million is more than double the RM44 million spent by the whole federal cabinet on oversea trips,' he said.
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak plans aerotropolis with new Kuching International Airport to boost aerospace hub aspirations
Photo of the current Kuching International Airport. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 28): Sarawak is moving forward with plans to develop an aerotropolis anchored by the proposed new Kuching International Airport, as part of the state's broader vision to establish itself as a regional aerospace hub, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He said the new airport will be a central component of the proposed aerotropolis and will be designed with modern and green architectural principles. 'We also discussed the development of an aerotropolis in Sarawak, which will include the new Kuching International Airport. 'The new airport will embody modern, green architectural principles and be equipped with cutting-edge systems to ensure a seamless passenger journey, from check-in to boarding,' he said during his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here today. The new airport is expected to accommodate more than 15 million passengers annually and will feature an integrated terminal layout to optimise efficiency and collaboration across the aviation industry. 'This facility will serve as an integrated aviation hub, where all terminals and support buildings are seamlessly interconnected. This cohesive layout will enhance operational efficiency and foster stronger synergies across the entire aviation industry ecosystem,' he added. Abang Johari said the state government will establish a Sarawak-Airbus Joint Task Force to draw up a roadmap for the development of Sarawak's aerospace industry. He disclosed that during a recent working visit to Toulouse, France, he met with Airbus officials and visited the company's headquarters along with ATR as part of the preparation to position Sarawak as an aerospace hub. 'Airbus expressed strong support for Sarawak's ambitions, as they proposed the Airbus-Sarawak Kenyalang Strategic Partnership Avenues, covering six key areas,' he said. These include pathways towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel production, human capital development, industrial ecosystem development, the Digital Airline Journey, an Airbus consulting project for AirBorneo, and airspace operations. In addition, Abang Johari said infrastructure planning in Sarawak will also benefit from international benchmarking, citing a visit to Abu Dhabi where he observed the integration of sea and air ports. 'By learning from global models like Abu Dhabi, whose ports connect seamlessly with international locations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia, we can better design Sarawak's global linkages and domestic connectivity,' he said. He also announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad was signed during the visit to foster long-term cooperation in port infrastructure and maritime logistics development. Abang Johari gave assurance that the development of the new international airport and deep seaport in Kuching would involve private sector investments. 'There has been expression of interest by the private sector, local multi-national and international corporations to spearhead the projects,' he said. The Premier also reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening Sarawak's multi-modal transport network across air, land, river and sea, adding that this would support the state's goal of becoming an Asean hub for renewable energy and the New Economy. abang johari aerotropolis DUN Kuching International Airport lead
