PENDING assemblywoman Violet Yong’s question on the overseas travel expenses of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Cabinet ministers was dismissed during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar cited several provisions under the Standing Orders to justify the disallowance of the query.
He said under Standing Order 20 (3), no question shall be asked during the same session with a view to solicit any answer which had been previously refused by the Speaker or if the minister had declined to answer.
“Under Standing Order 20 (4), if the Speaker is of the opinion that any question of which a member has given notice to the secretary or which a member has sought leave to ask, the notice is an abuse of the right of questioning or calculated to obstruct or affect prejudicially the procedure of the Dewan or to promote feelings of ill-will and so forth.
“While, under Standing Order 20 (6), it is stated that notwithstanding anything hearing before, a minister to whom a question is addressed may, with the approval of the Speaker, refuse to answer such question on the ground of public interest and such refusal cannot be debated or questioned,” he said.
He also pointed out Sarawak’s rising revenue and record-breaking foreign direct investment (FDI) as justification.
“Sarawak’s revenue budget has climbed from RM10.6 billion in 2020 to a crescendo of RM14.18 billion in 2024.
“Investment from overseas and foreign investments like Niagara Falls poured into Sarawak. RM3.18 billion in 2019, RM15.3 billion in 2020, RM10.32 billion in 2021, RM13.52 billion in 2022, RM7.8 billion in 2023, and RM14.12 billion in 2024.
“Over the past five years, Sarawak is flooded with FDI totalling RM54.35 billion. This is unprecedented in the entire history of Sarawak or any state in the nation. It is sound economic and financial policy and strategy to spend a few millions in order to reap a colossal harvest of multi-billions,” he said.
He added a question calculated to cast aspersion on the policy would impede and jeopardise Sarawak’s economic miracle and expansionist programme.
“The skyrocketing budget must not be derailed for Sarawak to soar up in the limitless skies of development and industrialisation. There is a Machiavellian doctrine that the end justifies the mean. Question is disallowed,” he said.
Under Standing Order 20 (6), he also said leave is a given to a minister’s refusal to answer the said question.
Asfia also described the overseas visits essential to securing major investments and advancing infrastructure development.
“Case in point, If you want to purchase an Airbus from France, you have to travel to Toulon to verify the aircraft’s quality. Similarly, to develop a state-of-the-art airport or seaport like those in Doha, physical visits are necessary. These things cannot be done online,” he said.
“What is the amount of the travelling cost compared with the gigantic herculean cost of a modern state of the art airport and sea port. All this cannot be done by email and online. If you do this transaction by email or online or Facebook. It will be catastrophic, the loses to Sarawak will be in billions.
“The few millions you spend on travelling become pittance, and trivial compared with the billions multi billion that Sarawak achieved
“You do not question and impede Sarawak’s progress, economic miracle and so forth. Question is disallowed,” said Asfia.
