DUN Sitting : Will our YBs debate about these in the august DUN?

Will our elected representatives highlight our grievances or problems during the sitting?

DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI SARAWAK

BERSIDANG MULAI:

01 hingga 10 November 2010

(tidak termasuk hari Sabtu dan Ahad). 

PRESS STATEMENT by Asfia on DAP's plan to sue him

by Sebanaku Sarawak

KUCHING: It would be interesting to know whether Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar could hide behind the doctrine of separation of powers for his actions to ban YB Chong Chieng Jen from the august DUN for a period of a year.

It is also interesting to note that to-date only YB Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who fiercely defend Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar when YB Chong Chieng Jen said he might challenge the decision in the Court.

SURAT YB DOMINIQUE KEPADA SPEAKER DUN SARAWAK

by Prof. Dr. x

KUCHING: If the DUN speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar didn't delay in replying the letter, there wouldn't be any commotion as happened that day.

As a matter of fact, it is not Asfia who is to write the letter because he has many lawyers in DUN who could tell him which section to be used to reply to Dominique's letter.

The following is a soft copy of Dominique's letter:

ASFIA vs DOMINIQUE (& JUNAIDI?)

by Sebanaku Sarawak

KUCHING: Today the State Legislative Assembly speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar says the Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng Kim Ho has no right under the law to enter the precincts of DUN.

And Asfia says he has no authority to grant access into the precincts.

But Dominique Ng said he has the right as a member of a public - not as an assemblyman.

Ho Leng terus 'menyalak'

Oleh: Prof. Dr X

KUCHING: Tidak jujur dan menguntungkan orang kaya.

Itu kesimpulan yang dibuat oleh Wong Ho Leng, ADUN Bukit Assek, dan pengerusi DAP Sarawak atau terkini, pemenang pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Sibu, terhadap pelaksanaan kadar baru bayaran pajakan tanah.

Tidak jujur kerana ia diumumkan Ketua Menteri Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud pada tempoh kempen pilihan raya di Sibu.

Please Do Not MISTREAT People's Representative !!!

Dominique is seen talking to an unidentified gentleman inside the DUN Building after getting the motions for the sitting while a security personnel closely watching him.

by Asan

KUCHING: He just could not believed it - he was deterred from entering the State Legislative Assembly building in his capacity as a Sarawakian!!!

Two days ago he was barred from attending the current sitting after he was found guity by the Committee of Privilege (COP) for ridiculing the assembly by equating it with a kangaroo court when it made its decision on a report of the committee on Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) on May 13 last year.

Ng, who is from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was charged with having said: “This is a kangaroo court. Let’s count the kangaroo. Come hop, hop, hop.

He and his fellow opposition colleague Cheong Chien Jen who is from Democratic Action People (DAP) party were suspended for a year with effect from last Monday.

Today, the security personnel had stopped him from entering the building.

In his first attempt which was around 1000am, he and his five supporters had caused a commotion for about 15 minutes at the main entrance of the building when he said he and his supporters wanted to go to the Public Gallery to watch the proceeding of the sitting.

However, he and his supporters relented after being told by the security personnel to get out from the building.

It is said that the instruction was given by the DUN speaker Dato Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar to stop Dominique from entering the building after he was barred for 12 months by the augusted assembly.

In his second attempt which was around 0300pm, he came to the building under the pretext of collecting the motions for the sitting.

And again, there was a scuffle between the people's representative and the security personnel who were stationed at the main entrance of the building.

When the commotion had attracted the attention of those at the building, Dominique was heard to say he came to the building in his capacity as a member of the public and he was there to take his motions.

He said the security personnel should not treated him in such a disrespectful manner.

One of the security personnel was heard trying to refute Dominique's claim.

The assemblyman later left the premises after he received the documents which he wanted to get.

He, however, was said to drive to the Gita Police State after making an exit from the State Legislative Assembly building to lodge a police report over the incident.

DON'T BE RUDE, MISTER!!!

by Sebanaku Sarawak

KUCHING: Special Advisor to the Chief Minister Office Datuk Amar Adenan Satem reproached the Bukit Assek state assemblyman Wong Ho Leng for being rude to the SUPP leaders.

He said the Sibu voters didn't vote him for his rude behaviour especially when he insinuated Datuk Wong Soon Koh after he won the Sibu parliamentary by-election.

Ho Leng was reported to have said that his victory to win Sibu as his birthday gift to Soon Koh.

NEWS FLASH - Wong Ho Leng wants RM100 deducted from ministers' salaries

KUCHING: A private member motion by the Bukit Assek state assemblyman Wong Ho Long to deduct RM100 per month from the Ministers and Assistant Ministers's salaries was rejected by the Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar today.

in his motion, Ho Leng said he and his fellow comrades in the opposition pact was not happy with the failure of the ministers and assistant ministers to reply in most of questions from the assemblymen regardless of whether their are in the BN or not.

Few minutes after the motion was rejected by the speaker, the august assembly was adjourned until tomorrow.

DUN Sitting : Nov 01 - Nov 10, 2010

Day One (Nov 01):
* Ucapan Belanjawan 2010 by Taib

Day Two (Nov 02):
* Draft of Private Motion By Karim on WHITE PAPER
* Draft of Private Motion By Ho Leng on Ministers
* Draft of Private Motion By Ho Leng on logjam at Rajang River
* Draft of Private Motion By Violet Yong against Article 24(7)
* Abu Seman querying about Mukah airport and MASwings
* Nelson querying about road connecting Ba' Kelalan and Bario
* Simoi querying about road upgrading
* Mohammad Ali querying about general hospital in Kota Samarahan
* Joseh Mauh querying about supply of water to long houses
* Dr. Abdul Rahman querying about drainage system in Rampangi
* Wahbi querying about telecommunication tower
* Andy Chia querying about jetties

Day Three (Nov 03):
* RM1.4 bln road to make Kapit accessible in 5 years, says Manyin
* Investment in 1st Silicon for long-term benefit, says George Chan
* Protect Sarawak companies servicing oil and gas industry, says Andy Chia
* Police HQ to be built at Petra Jaya, says George Chan

Day Four (Nov 04):
* RM60 million for perimeter survey on NCR land, saysTengah
* Dr Jerip urges dept to urgently build long-overdue Siburan health clinic
* Limbang in need of specialist doctors, says Dr Abdul Rahman
* Assign specialist to Dato hospital, says Abu Seman
* Improvement for Kpg Benuk, Kpg Mongkos homestay programmes, says Talip
* Voon calls for govt clinic or mobile medical team for Batu Lintang
* Bayoi - Many areas in Serian need power, clean water supply

Day Five (Nov 05):
* DAP’s Chiew and Voon invited to join ruling govt by Dr. Abdul Rahman and Liwan
* Buffalo farmers to receive assistance, says Jabu
* 4 hectres per family can lift state’s economy, says Jabu
* Categorise SK Long Napir as Penan school, says Paulus
* Manyin says Rayang-Sebemban road to be included in 10MP
* Dr Chan says History syllabus must be all inclusive
* Dr Abd Rahman says every Pantai Damai village needs primary drain
* Abg Jo says 70 pct maximum loan won’t affect local property market
* Hasidah says Consider grassroots’ opinions in future govt plans

No DUN Sitting on Nov 06 (Sat) & Nov 07 (Sun).

Day Six (Nov 08):
* Sarawak's Export Of Timber Products To Hit RM7 Billion This Year, says Tengah
* Sarawak Foundation Aid For All Sarawakians, says Fatimah
* Human Capital Development Must Meet Needs Of SCORE, says Taib

Day Seven (Nov 09):
* White paper not designed to oppress, says Taib 
* Sarawak Plans To Develop Bus Rapid Transit System, says Abang Jo
* Higher House Prices In Sarawak, says Abang Jo
* Pandalela, Bibiana And Brian Rewarded By Sarawak Government, says Mawan
* Sarawak Plans To Merge, Upgrade Dumpsites To Sanitary Landfills, says Soon Koh
* Goverment Plans To Implement Eight EPP Along The Palm Oil Value Chain, says Masing
* Masing says many countries want to copy BN unique system
* Ministry aims to improve people’s oral health, says Soon Koh

Day Eight (Nov 10):
* DUN passes Budget 2011
* Dr Chan says rep should not have touched on his and his daughter’s personal affairs
* Jabu says Community leaders to get raise 100% in allowances
* More MAS international flights from KIA, says Dr Chan
* Salcra might pay highest dividend, says Jabu
* Soon Koh tells private sector to take lead in Sarawak’s economic transformation
* Vessels can enjoy further sudsidised diesel extension, says Dr Chan
* Local business portal ready to assist entrepreneurs and investors, says Dr Chan
* SMEs in major sectors assisted with training, says Dr Chan
  

DUN Sitting (Day Eight): DUN passes Budget 2011

(Nov 10, 2010)

THE SUPPLY (2011) Bill, 2010 and the motion to refer the Resolution of the Estimates of Development Expenditure, 2011 was passed by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.

Budget 2011 which was tabled by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on the first day of the DUN sitting on November 1 was passed after it was read for the third time by Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

More than 30 members of the august house participated in the debate on the Bill throughout the sitting, including members from the opposition bench before it was finally passed.

Taib, who is Minister of Finance, when presenting the budget, said that Budget 2011 was expected to generate a budget surplus of RM60 million.

It was the second meeting of the fifth session of the 16th DUN sitting, and could be the final for some members as the next state election could be called soon.

The motion to adjourn the sitting was read by Assistant Minister of Rural District Councils John Sikie Tayai.

DUN Sitting (Day Eight): Vessels can enjoy further sudsidised diesel extension, says Dr Chan

(Nov 10, 2010)

SOON, coastal vessels, tugboats, barges and others operating within Sarawak under the Controlled Subsidised Diesel Scheme (SKDS) can enjoy further subsidised diesel extension.

This followed a decision reached after a paper on the matter was tabled by the state’s Industrial Development Ministry at the Industries-Joint Committee (JBI) meeting last Oct 8.

The meeting, co-chaired by its minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Deputy International Trade and Industry minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir also saw another paper touching on extension of tax exemption of shipping profits to ferries, tugboats, barges, lighters and others which operated within Sarawak under the Income Tax Act.

“Our main aim is to bring down the cost of transportation of goods, hence, the cost of doing businesses in the state in line with the changing needs and to enable our businesses to be more competitive,” said Dr Chan, who is also the Industrial Development Minister, when delivering his winding-up speech yesterday.

DUN Sitting (Day Eight): Jabu says Community leaders to get raise 100% in allowances

(Nov 10, 2010)

SHOW OF SOLIDARITY: Jabu (second right) leaving the State Legislative Assembly after delivering his winding-up speech with (from left) Sharifah Hasidah (BN-Semariang), Andy Chia (BN-Pujut) and (right) Datuk Francis Harden (BN- Simanggang) yesterday.

THE state government will increase the allowances of penghulus, pemamcas and temenggongs after it has finalised the matter with the federal government.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the move was made following an announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak in his recent 2011 Budget speech that ketua kampungs and village security and development committee (JKKK) chairmen would be getting an allowance of RM800 per month effective January 2011.

The amount would be a 100 per cent increase from their current allowance of RM400 per month.

Jabu who is also the Minister of Rural Development said the new allowances would be announced once the administrative issue relating to them has been finalised by the relevant authorities.

DUN Sitting (Day Eight): Dr Chan says rep should not have touched on his and his daughter’s personal affairs

(Nov 10, 2010)

by Johnson K Saai.

ADJOURNED SINE DIE: Dr Chan waving to reporters before getting into his car after DUN was adjourned yesterday.

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan would have regretted it if he had allowed an interruption by Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) during his winding-up speech as the Minister of Industrial Development on the final day of the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.

This was because Yong, who was granted the floor when she sought for point of order, instead of clarifying issues affecting the state and the people in general, touched on matters concerning the minister’s and his daughter’s private lives.

She first started her remarks by congratulating Dr Chan for his “second marriage” before asking the minister why his daughter had been able to get a piece of land in BDC area at a low price.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): White paper not designed to oppress, says Taib

 (Nov 09, 2010)

KUCHING: Government backbenchers’ effort to keep the proceedings of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) decorous must not be regarded as a move to oppress the opposition.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who said this yesterday gave state BN Backbenchers’ Club chairman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah a pat on the back for his initiative to curtail unintended disputes in the august house.

“I think it is an intelligent way (Karim had moved a motion for a white paper) to get things to calm down, to get people to see the rational approach to solving problems… not like what (you see) in the papers, to muzzle the opposition.

“It is an effort to try to understand what the real situation is. Once we know the real situation, measures will be taken and prevention put in place to preserve the good character of the people,” he said in his winding up speech yesterday.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Ministry aims to improve people’s oral health, says Soon Koh

(Nov 09, 2010)

ABOUT 460,000 people are expected to receive oral healthcare at government dental facilities while 1,511 (79 per cent) kindergartens and 1,206 (95.5 per cent) primary schools in the state respectively will receive oral healthcare under the Incremental School Dental Programme. 

Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said in his winding-up speech that the Oral Health Division aims to improve the oral health status of the people, especially school children, as well as to mould an exemplary workforce.

As such, it launched its first master plan – Pinnacle 2010 on July 27 in 2002.

As a result, 25 per cent of six-year-old children and 51 per cent of 12-year-old children in the State were free dental decay in 2009 and the average number of decayed teeth among 12-year-old schoolchildren had decreased from 2.5 in 1997, to 1.3 in 2009.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Goverment Plans To Implement Eight EPP Along The Palm Oil Value Chain, says Masing

(Nov 09, 2010)

KUCHING -- The Sarawak state government plans to implement eight core Entry Point Projects (EPP) along the palm oil value chain under the palm oil National Key Economic Areas (NKEA).

Minister of Land Development Datuk Seri James Jemut Masing said the EPP is important, especially in Sarawak, as development of the palm oil industry remains heavily biased towards upstream activities.

He said under the upstream activities, the EPP would focus on improving productivity and sustainability, in order to transform the palm oil plantation.

This is to be done, he added, by accelerating the replanting of aging oil palms, mechanising plantations using equipment such as Cantas, stringently enforcing best practices, implementing strict quality control parameters and developing biogas facilities at palm oil mills.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Sarawak Plans To Merge, Upgrade Dumpsites To Sanitary Landfills, says Soon Koh

(Nov 09, 2010)

KUCHING -- Sarawak has proposed to merge and upgrade the existing dumpsites in the state to at least level three sanitary landfills in phases, state Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said Tuesday.

He said the ministry had conducted a study and proposed to upgrade the dumpsites to sanitary landfills equipped with cells, gas venting system, leachate treatment system and polishing ponds.

"We have secured funding this year from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to upgrade the leachate treatment plant and build new cells at the Kemuyang sanitary landfill, Sibu costing RM7.5 million and at the Sibuti sanitary landfill, Miri costing RM6.8 million.

"In addition, the ministry has also approved the safe closure of the Kuala Baram, Miri dumpsite costing RM8 milion and the upgrading of the landfill in Sarikei," he said in his winding-up speech for his ministry at the state assembly sitting, here Tuesday.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Pandalela, Bibiana And Brian Rewarded By Sarawak Government, says Mawan

(Nov 09, 2010)

KUCHING -- Three Sarawak athletes who won medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games were rewarded by the state government, the Sarawak State Assembly was told Tuesday.

Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Seri William Mawan Ikom said Bibiana Ng and Pandalela Rinong anak Pamg, who won gold and silver medals respectively in the shooting and diving events, received incentives totalling RM50,000 each.

He said Brian Nickson Lomas, who won two bronze in diving, received a total of RM15,000.

The incentives were the state government's way of rewarding Sarawak athletes who turn in medal winning performances at big meets, he said when winding up debate for his ministry.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Higher House Prices In Sarawak, State Assembly Told

(Nov 09, 2010)

KUCHING -- House prices in Sarawak have shot up in a period of less than a year, State Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said Tuesday.

He told the state assembly that a double-storey semi-detached house which cost RM500,000 in May was now priced at RM600,000 and a double-storey corner house which went for RM300,000 in May was now RM400,000.

Winding up debate on his ministry, he did not dismiss the possibility that developers raised prices on the excuse that higher cost of land, construction material and oil had hiked up the cost of construction.

"This can result in medium-income people being unable to buy houses of their choice. Furthermore, it could set off a property bubble which can have dire consequences on the economy," he said.

DUN Sitting (Day Seven): Sarawak Plans To Develop Bus Rapid Transit System, says Abang Jo

(Nov 09, 2009)

KUCHING, Nov 9 -- Sarawak urged the federal government to assist the state in developing a modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said Tuesday the BRT system would be integrated with the river taxi and other non-motorised transportation such as pedestrian walks and cycling lanes.

"We hope the federal government will assist us to revamp our bus services and to develop BRT system.

"This is our way forward to make Kuching a world class city," he said when the winding up the debate for his ministry at the State Assembly Meeting here Tuesday.

He added that revamping urban public transportation system would unclog the traffic congestion in the city, reduce pollution and usage of fuel per capita.