KUCHING: The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) which passed the recent amendment bill on the redesignation of ‘Chief Minister’ to ‘Premier’ is the highest law-making body in Sarawak.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah asserted that the highest law-making body in Sarawak must be respected.
He was commenting on Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka’s (DBP) board of control chairman Prof Datuk Awang Sariyan’s recent statement that Sarawak should reconsider its decision to change the title of its state government leader.
Awang Sariyan said there were long-term implications on the use of the term one of which was that it would create the perception that there was a prime minister at the state level.
“That is just his opinion, there are many professors and academicians from universities voicing out their opinions on this.
“It is DBP’s right to give its opinion but other language experts might not concur with him,” said Abdul Karim.
The bill, was which tabled by Abdul Karim was passed by the DUN on Feb 15.
A total of 67 state assemblyperson voted in support of the bill, while six oppositions members did not support it.
The designation from ‘Chief Minister’ to ‘Premier’ is now pending gazettement.
