FOCUS ON SABAH
recommend those who are keen to be lawmakers to attend the Assembly sessions.
The briefing by the Assembly Secretary before the start of the first sitting on the rules and procedures under the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly was a good start. The materials given to us were helpful especially the Standing Orders of the Sabah Legislative Assembly. Knowing the Standing Orders is compulsory, and it can differentiate the quality of one lawmaker to another. I have a feeling of satisfaction when I can prove lawmakers’ errors as far as the standing orders are concerned. As an opposition member, I would like to see changes in the Sabah Assembly through the appointment of government lawmakers or political party leaders. This is especially to do with the appointment of the presiding officer or Speaker or Deputy Speakers. To this effect, changes to the State Constitution are necessary whereas, at the moment, the
appointment of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is carried out by the Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di Pertua Negeri, who is the governor of the State of Sabah. It would better if both the positions of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers were to be cast by votes in the State Legislative Assembly soon after each general election. By this procedure the Speaker and Deputy Speakers would be directly responsible to the State Legislative Assembly. The position of the Speaker must be separate from that of the lawmaker/member. In other words, they should be either a Speaker or a lawmaker/member and not both.
I can see that being a
lawmaker and a Speaker at the same time could mean that one may not be able to raise issues affecting his or her constituency during assembly sittings. I also see the same when lawmakers are Ministers or Assistant Ministers where they do not raise
issues of their constituencies during the sessions. What it means is that the problems or the requests from their constituencies will not be heard or raised in the House. It might also be fairer if the Deputy Speaker of the Sabah Assembly was not from any political party. This would avoid conflicting statements made outside and within the House by the Deputy Speaker.
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly should provide more facilities to opposition lawmakers now that the opposition law- makers are larger in number. There is a need for a proper office for the opposition leader. Other amenities such as an official vehicle for the opposition leader and a permanent opposition meeting room, for the opposition members to discuss issues before sessions start, are something that needs to be considered. Development funds should also be given to opposition members in order for them to serve and service
their constituencies better. We are not provided with research assistants or funding for our service centres. In short, the opposition should be given the same treatment as their counterparts in the government. This is to ensure equal respect and fairness to all members irrespective of their political belief. After all, at the end of the day it is the people who benefits from the service of an effective lawmaker/member.
I believe this will change as the opposition gathers more lawmakers. After all, the opposition today is a government tomorrow. It is in the best interest of the people and the state if the opposition members play the role expected of them. The State Legislative Assembly is where laws are made, amended or even removed. I would like to see more time spent and more lively debate in the Assembly. I will contribute as best I can, knowing that my legacy is recorded and kept in perpetuity in Hansard.
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly
The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue One - Sabah | VII
CEphoto; Uwe Aranas
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