KUCHING: A re-vote had to be held before the Sarawak State Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022 to change the term of the Chief Minister to Premier was approved by the State Assembly today.
In the first vote, the bill received the support of 54 State Assemblymen while another six were against it.
The result of the vote was opposed by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) who argued that the bill needed two-thirds backing in the august house and the outcome of the voting did not reflect this.
His protest forced Sarawak State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar to order a re-vote.
In the second vote, the bill was approved after getting the support of 67 assemblymen as opposed to six who objected.
The outcome of the vote will now see the post of Chief Minister of Sarawak replaced by the new term of 'Sarawak Premier'.
A total of 16 assemblymen debated the bill, namely Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (GPS-Dudong), Wilfred Yap (GPS-Kota Sentosa), Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan), Christopher Gira (GPS-Tamin), Fazruddin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong ), Baru Bian (PSB-Ba'kelalan), Safiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro), Lo Khere Chiang (GPS-Batu Kitang), Datuk Gerawat Jala (GPS-Mulu), Datuk Talib Zulpilip (GPS-Jepak), Wilson Nyabong Ijang (GPS-Pelagus), Chieng Jin Ek (GPS-Bukit Assek), Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (PSB-Bawang Assan) Adam Yii (GPS-Pujut), Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) and Royston Valentine (GPS-Tellian).
The bill was tabled by Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and seconded by Sarawak Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin. The bill was passed after the third reading.
Karim in his speech at the tabling of the bill said the recent amendment to the Federal Constitution restored the original spirit of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) that when Sarawak agreed to participate in the formation of Malaysia, it's status as one of the three provinces (Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak) should be maintained.
Therefore, he said, it placed Sarawak as one of the three provinces and considered its status was not the same as other states in the Federation of Malaya.
"As practised in other Commonwealth territories whose establishment is similar to Malaysia, including Australia and Canada, the Head of the Federation is referred to as the Prime Minister and the Head of the Territory that forms the Federation is referred to as the 'Premier' while other states are headed by the Chief Minister.
"Therefore, to properly portray Sarawak's status as different from other states in the Federation, it is proposed that the post of Chief Minister be changed to 'Premier'," he said.
Apart from that, also amended under the Bill is Article 7A of the Sarawak State Constitution to replace the title of 'Assistant Minister' to that of 'Deputy Minister.'