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Speaker dismisses two motions

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See Chee How

KUCHING: Two motions related to queries on consensus between the state government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), and inclusion of RM2.55 billion Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid Package (BKSS) into the Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020 were dismissed during yesterday’s sitting.

The first motion was read by See Chee How (Batu Lintang) who mentioned that a joint statement signed by the Chief Minister’s Department represented by Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring assistant minister Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Petronas chairman Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh did not fully disclose the settlement terms of their legal suits against each other.

The motion was for Hasidah to reveal the full settlement terms for the august House, to review, appraise and deliberate on, and to instruct the state government on its present and future conduct of the legal proceedings to safeguard the sovereign rights of Sarawak to her land and all her resources.

To this, Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the motion had to be dismissed as it was not first referred to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) consultative committee before being brought to the House.

“The House had unanimously passed administerial motion under Standing Order 89 and Article 24(1) of the State Constitution on the establishment of a consultative committee comprising all particular parties to determine and agree on matters related to special interest and rights of Sarawak under MA63.

“Only after such matters have been discussed, the consultative committee shall advise this august House on the course of action this House shall embark on,” he said.

The second motion was read by Baru Bian (Ba’ Kelalan) who pointed out that the Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020 did not contain the financial allocations totalling RM2.55 billion for the BKSS packages.

“Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) on March 23, April 10 and May 8 this year announced the financial allocations of RM1.15 billion, RM1.1 billion and RM300 million under three separate and consecutive stimulus packages purportedly to help the people in the state to face the economic uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order (MCO).

“This House hereby resolves that the Supplementary Supply (2020) Bill, 2020 be amended to include the authorisation of the allocation of RM2.55 billion from the Consolidated Fund for the expenditures for the scheduled and specified services not provided for or not fully provided for in the Supply (2020) Ordinance, 2019, before it is tabled for debate in this House,” he said.

However, Asfia dismissed his motion as it violated Standing Orders 67(4), 67(7) and 67(a).

Standing Order 67(4) states that on the order being read for the second reading of the Supplementary Supply Bill, the question thereon shall be put forth with and decided without amendment or debate.

As for Standing Order 67(7), it states that when all the questions on all heads of expenditure in both the Supplementary Supply Bill and the Supplementary Development Estimates have been disposed of and the Bill has been passed by the committee, the chairman shall, without allowing amendment or debate, put to the committee a question on the resolution of the Supplementary Development Estimates.

On the other hand, Standing Order 67(a) states that when the Supplementary Supply Bill has been reported to the House, a motion for the third reading thereof shall thereupon be made by a Minister. Such motion shall not require to be seconded and shall be decided without amendment or debate.

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