Asfia shuts down Chong over Hansard issue in library Bill debate

KUCHING: State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Asfia Awang Nassar today (Oct 13) disallowed Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen from continuing his speech while debating the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after ruling that his remarks on the Assembly’s Hansard records are outside the scope of the debate.

Chong had raised the inclusion of a new definition, “Memorial Archives”, in the Bill, which refers to an archive established to house, preserve and exhibit historical materials commemorating an event, place, person or other historical aspect.

He argued that the definition should also cover digital archives, allowing historical materials to be stored online and made accessible to the public.

“An archive should include a digital archive, where this information or historical material can be stored in the cloud or in cyberspace, whereby it can be accessed by the public,” said Chong.

Chong then argued that the historical materials should include the Hansard records of the Sarawak DUN, which he noted had a history spanning 159 years.

However, Asfia interrupted him, saying Chong is diverting the debate from the State Library Bill to the Assembly’s Hansard records.

“I have been lenient to allow and give leeway, but don’t divert it to the Hansard of the House. It’s a separate debate. I will not allow it,” he said.

Chong maintained that the Hansard was a historical record documenting how Bills were introduced and passed in the Assembly.

“It is a historical event,” he said, insisting that the records should be considered part of the state’s historical materials.

Asfia, however, stood by his ruling, reiterating that the Hansard issue is a separate subject and would not be allowed under the current debate.