Kuching to host Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies

BY NURIN PATRA & NURA VALENTIANA LORNA

KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) will host the upcoming two-day Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies of Malaysia from Sept 12 at Pullman Hotel, here.

Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar said 42 delegates, comprising Dewan Negara President and  Deputy President, Dewan Rakyat Speaker and Deputy Speaker, as well as Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies and their Secretaries, will attend.

“This conference aims to empower the role of the institution of Speakers, and the role of Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies as platforms representing the voice of the people, besides being a forum for sharing knowledge and experience between the Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies throughout Malaysia.

“Moreover, the position of the Speakers needs to be strengthened, to avoid challenges to their positions, whether inside or outside the assembly, which can weaken parliamentary democracy.

“Therefore, the theme of this year’s conference is ‘To Empower The Institution of Speakership’,” he said  during a press conference for the Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies of Malaysia here, today.

Asfia said there will be three presentations of working papers, each from Dewan Negara, Dewan Rakyat, and DUN Sarawak, along with the summary of the closing remarks for the symposium titled ‘Bicara Ketatanegaraan membangunkan Masa Depan’.

“The first working paper, titled ‘Adakah Dewan Negara institusi kuasa speaker, satu konkrit, satu coretan’ will be presented by Dewan Negara President Senator  Datuk Abang Bemee Ali Basah.

“Meanwhile, from the House of Representatives, the working paper titled ‘Memperkukuhkan Demokrasi Berparlimen Melalui Penglibatan Awam Yang Progresif’  will be presented by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Dr Johari Abdul.

“Next, from the DUN Sarawak, the paper titled  ‘Pindaan kepada Perintah Tetap’ will be presented by myself. However, these three working papers are subject to any last-minute changes due to the rapidly changing circumstances,” he added.

Marking the first time in 28 years that the event will take place in Sarawak, he revealed that the conference’s opening ceremony will be officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Sept 13 at the Banquet Hall of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building.

The delegates will also visit the Borneo Cultural Museum (BCM) on Sept 13 and attend a dinner with the Governor that evening.

There will be separate programmes for the spouses of the delegates.