Kota Kinabalu: Assembly members are reminded not to politicise the Policy Address of Head of State Tun Musa Aman at the opening of the Fifth Session of the 16th Sabah Legislative Assembly today (Thursday).
Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M. Yahya said the reminder was directed at all backbenchers and the opposition — not to raise issues unrelated to the content of the address.
“For this sitting, especially since we are still in the middle of the Syawal month, we hope for a calm debate, focused on constructive points and only on the issues raised by Tun Musa.
“Technically, an assembly member may only debate what was brought up by Tun in the policy address. There’s no reason to bring up unrelated matters if they were not addressed by him.
“So, I urge all ADUNs not to bring up irrelevant or inappropriate issues. Do not use the TYT’s Policy Address as a political platform for election campaigning. This applies to both backbenchers and the opposition,” he said
Kadzim refuted claims by some parties that this would be a heated or final sitting of the assembly.
“Whether it's the final session or not, I don’t know. I initially thought the Budget session was the last, but now there’s an official opening of the DUN again.
“As for the so-called 'heated' part, I wouldn’t call it that—more like spirited. In the end, there’s nothing that crosses the line,” he said.
The current session would last four days next week, beginning with debates and followed by responses to Musa’s address, before the tabling of four Bills.
Three of the Bills are amendments related to land, forestry, and housing laws, while a new Bill concerning elephants will be tabled on the final day.