Kota Kinabalu: The State Legislative Assembly will convene for four days starting Monday (July 18), said Speaker Datuk Kadzim M Yahya.
He said four bills will be tabled at the second meeting of the third term of the 16th Sabah State Assembly, but he did not elaborate further on the bills.
“The standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19, such as wearing face masks and self tests, are still in force during this sitting,” he said at a press conference at the Sabah State Assembly Building in Likas, here, Thursday.
Kadzim said during this sitting, the State Assembly will allow the presence of observers and, therefore, those interested are required to make an application to the Assembly Secretariat.
“Schools and non-governmental organisations can apply, as well as Yang Berhormat (assemblymen) who want to bring their observers.
“However, the allocation for number and time slots is limited, as we are still subject to the SOPs set,” he said.
Asked about the latest position of state assemblymen at the sitting, he confirmed that Kukusan Assemblywoman Rina Jainal, who left Parti Warisan on June 5, will sit in the government block, as she had declared herself government-friendly.
He also said Segama Assemblyman Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who is also Lahad Datu Member of Parliament, who quit Bersatu on June 28, remained in the government block because he was still a government-friendly people’s representative.
Meanwhile, a special motion to revoke the Petronas Agreement has been submitted to Kadzim.
It was submitted by Kadamaian Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick and Luyang at his Kadzim’s office, Thursday.
Also present were Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon and Likas Assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt.
Ewon and Phoong had earlier requested two former Chief Ministers, namely Tan Sri Harris Salleh and Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, to come forward and explain their reasons for signing the Petronas Agreement in 1976.
Harris, in a statement, said the Agreement should be made after the Petroleum Development Act 1974 was passed in Parliament.
To date, Pairin has not spoken on the subject. Along with Harris, he is a signatory to the Petronas Agreement.
Harris challenged Ewon and Phoong to table a motion in the State Legislative Assembly to revoke the Petronas Agreement, after which both (Ewon and Phoong) agreed to Harris’ challenge.
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