Speaker shoots down 3 opposition motions

Posted on November 21, 2012, Wednesday
KUCHING: Three motions raised by the oposition members were dismissed on the second day of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.

The motion by Ting Tze Fui (DAP-Meradong) on the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) in Sarawak was dismissed on grounds that it is under the purview and jurisdiction of the Federal Government.

“The fact that the law on AES had been tabled, debated and approved in the Dewan Rakyat with conclusive proofs beyond any shadow of doubt,” said DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

According to the motion’s preamble, upon full operation of the AES in the nation, a total of 831 AES cameras are to be set up nationwide, 28 of them in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Asfia said that the stand taken by the state government on the AES system was summed up by a memorandum by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Communication.

The localities of the AES system is based on studies conducted by the Malaysia Road and Safety Research (MyROS), the Ministry of Transport and Road Transport Department (JPJ).

“JPJ Malaysia will also officially inform and brief the state and respective road authorities or agencies prior to the implementation of AES in the state,” said Asfia.

He concluded that until the state had been informed and briefed on the implementation of AES, it was premature to discuss the subject.

The second motion which was dismissed came from Wong Ho Leng (DAP- Bukit Assek) who wanted the Dewan to cancel the construction of the 12 proposed hydroelectric dams as it would affect the livelihood of the indigenous people.

According to Asfia, the motion was dismissed as it could be sub-judice to the 22 cases which were fixed for hearing in the sessions court Jan next year.

“These 22 cases are in connection on land compensation as a result from land acquisition from Bakun dam,” said Asfia.

The third motion from Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) was also dismissed on grounds that the motion was based on a London based magazine on Nov 3, 2012.

“Question shall not be asked to verify statements in the press or private individuals or unofficial bodies are accurate,” said Asfia referring to the first preamble of the motion which quoted the magazine.

Chong’s preamble quoted the magazine as saying that Sarawak had lost more than 90 per cent of its primary forest to logging and has the fastest rate of deforestation in Asia. Sarawak has only 0.5 per cent of the world’s tropical forest but accounted for 25 per cent of tropical-log exports in 2012.

He also said that the reports which were published by the magazine and satellite images captured by an environmental body was not verified and confirmed by the state’s legally established body on environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment or Department of Environment Malaysia.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/21/speaker-shoots-down-3-opposition-motions/#ixzz2Cp0fhHrh

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SAVE Rivers join Green March