KUCHING: It is much safer to hold today’s one-day State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting rather than hold a state election amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.
He said regardless of the ongoing pandemic, it was incumbent upon the honourable members to have a meeting once every six months pursuant to Article 21 of the State Constitution.
“Article 21 (1) of the State Constitution states that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri may from time to time summon the House, and shall not allow six months to elapse between the last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session,” he told a press conference after attending a pre-DUN meeting at the DUN complex yesterday.
Asfia said if the State Constitution was not adhered to, the state legislature would be inadvertently dissolved which would necessitate a state election within 60 days from the date of its dissolution.
“That is like jumping from a frying pan into a fire. If you don’t hold this, the Dewan is dissolved and there is a general election. From the medical and public health perspective in the midst of the pandemic, it is much safer to assemble 82 honourable members with social distancing in a disinfected building than to have a general election,” he said.
Asfia added the state legislature could not be held via video conferencing as under Article 21 (1) and Standing Order 1 (1), on the first day of the meeting of the Dewan after a general election or prorogation, members having assembled at the time and place duly appointed and having seated in accordance with Standing Order 2 the Speaker will determine where they are seated.
“During the one-day sitting, there will be no opening ceremony and address by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri,” he said.
He added that there would be a statement by the relevant minister under Standing Order 11 (1)(i).
“As the sitting is only for a day, there will be no question-and- answer session in the chambers,” he said.
He also said there would be no Private Members’ Motion under Standing Order 23.
“There will also be no Motion of Adjournment and the Speaker will just conclude the sitting ‘sine die’,” he said.
