Wednesday 23 February 2022

Sarawak Legislative Assembly is the highest lawmaking body here if compared to Dewan Bahasa Pustaka

We disagree with the suggestion made by Dewan Bahasa Pustaka (DBP) board of control chairman, Prof Datuk Awang Sariyan who recently advised us to reconsider its decision to use ‘Premier’ to address the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Sarawak. I have mentioned to our media friends that Sarawak has the right to rename the designation of Chief Minister to ‘Premier’ as the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) which is the highest lawmaking body in Sarawak. 

The Bill that passed and was done in the highest lawmaking body in Sarawak (DUN) if compared to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. I have also reasoned that there were long term implications to the use of the term, one of which was creating the perception that there was a prime minister at the state level. 

He added that one of the implications was that the concept of federalism, which is the basis of the Malaysian Federation being affected, and this needed to be examined carefully. While the views of DBP are well noted however it is our rights to do so. You have to respect our DUN which the highest lawmaking body here and other language specialists might not concur with Prof Awang Sariyan views. The Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022 to change the designation of the Chief Minister to ‘Premier’ and Assistant Minister to ‘Deputy Minister’ was passed by Sarawak's on February 15 and was passed with more than two-thirds majority when 67 members voted in favour, while six members had opposed it.



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